Another way to replace metal siderails for residents unable to transfer safely or immobile residents who lean to one side are full-length body pillows, concave mattresses, or bed bumpers on mattresses. There is no single solution to preventing bed-related falls. Use of siderails often replaces the assessment process of unraveling the complex etiology of a resident's fall risk. Effective fall reduction programs emphasize the importance of a comprehensive assessment process and often employ an individualized, multifactoral intervention. The Table provides an example of a siderail evaluation tool, including examples of alternative interventions.
Many new products are available that can address fall risk.
These beds are best reserved for those residents at greatest risk for fall-related injury and siderail entrapment. Further research is needed to demonstrate the efficacy of these interventions in preventing bed-related injurious falls. Acknowledgment This work is supported by grants from the Novartis Foundation for Gerontological Research, the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Institute on Aging, and Genesis ElderCare. Rubenstein HS, Miller AK, Postel S, et al. Gurwitz JH, Sanchez-Cross MT, Eckler MA, et al.