Bed rails are regularly used in nursing home facilities to create a supportive and assistive sleeping environment for residents. Rails are not only designed to reduce the risk of falling from bed, but also to provide support for elderly residents to get in or out of bed or reposition.
Although bed rails are designed to enhance safety and mobility, because nursing home residents often have physical limitations such as weakness, or have mental disabilities including dementia, bed rails can pose a risk for entrapment resulting in injury and death.
In fact, many such incidences have been reported to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Food and Drug Administration underscoring the need for caution when using bed rails of any kind for older adults and people with certain medical conditions or physical limitations to prevent injury.
Hundreds of entrapment and entanglement incidents involving bed rails, side rails, half rales, assist bars and portable guardrails have been reported, some resulting in serious injury, entrapment, asphyxia or death. Unfortunately, many residents and their families are unaware of the risks because they are never asked for consent, or informed of the benefits and risks before installing bed rails.
When your family member has been injured at a nursing home facility the reasons may include the negligent installation, use, or maintenance of a bed rail. It is important to contact an experienced nursing home neglect and abuse lawyer if your loved one is injured in a nursing home facility. Iowa Nursing Home abuse and neglect attorney Marc A. Humphrey will work with you to hold Iowa nursing homes or residential care facilities accountable for negligence. Contact Humphrey Law Firm for immediate assistance at 515-331-3510.
