Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can both lead to potentially dangerous situations when in bed, especially during regular nighttime sleep. Safety precautions like bed rails may be necessary.
You might be asking, “How can sleeping in bed ever be dangerous?”
The reason is that people with Alzheimer’s may reach a stage in the disease’s progression in which they are at risk for “elopement,” more commonly referred to simply as “wandering.”
When this wandering occurs during the night, there is a greater risk of falling and other sources of injuries as the individual is getting out of or back into the bed.
The individual who wanders at night often wakes up disoriented, not knowing where they are and perhaps not realizing they are in their bed. Since they cannot see in the dark and may not know where they are, they may take the wrong step and hit obstacles in the room, or they might roll out of bed by accident and fall on the floor.
A bed rail can be an efficient way to provide an anchor for the individual with Alzheimer’s in this situation. If the person is known to get up during the night for unknown reasons, a bed rail can be a good way to provide them something to use while getting out of the bed. It is also a great way to prevent them from rolling out of the bed inadvertently.
Here are some bed rails and bed rail accessories that might come in handy.
Standers bed rails
There are three types of Standers bed rails we sell.
The first is the Standers 30 Inch Safety Bed Rail. It is easy to install and works primarily by slipping the bottom of the rail underneath the mattress and strapping it to the opposite side of the bed frame so that it stays securely in place.
The Standers 30 Inch Safety Bed Rail can go on either side of the bed and may be folded down and out of the way when not in use.
You may alternatively buy the Standers 30 Inch Safety Bed Rail with a padded pouch. The pad, which fits all the way around the rail, has a dual function: 1) it protects the individual from bumping into a hard rail, and 2) it features a handy pouch for organizing things like books, papers or TV remotes.
The third Standers bed rail is the Standers EZ Adjust Bed Rail. It is similar to the one above, but it’s length can be extended to protect both the shoulders and the legs from falling out of the bed. It is easily adjusted to a shorter length when the user is ready to get out of bed.
Bed rail pads
Finally, if you already have rails on your bed, you may still need pads to prevent injuries related to bumping into a hard rail. For this, consider the Posey Deluxe Guard Rail Pads.
Please note that the Posey Deluxe Guard Rail Pads are not bed rails. Rather, they are a bed rail accessory that can be attached to the bed rails you already own, via hook and loop straps.
The bed should be a safe haven after a long, hard day. These bed rails and bed rail accessories will help you keep the bed safe for yourself or your loved one with Alzheimer’s.
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