Over Fifty Years Of Personal Injury Law Practice

Bed rail injuries in nursing homes

On Behalf of | Feb 4, 2025 | Nursing Home Negligence

Bed rails are a common item in nursing homes. They serve an important role for nursing home residents, providing protection by preventing slipping and falling. Bed rails also help residents get in and out of bed, reposition themselves while in bed and easily maneuver to reach items while in bed.

Nursing homes must follow certain regulations when using bed rails. Despite the many benefits bed rails provide, they can be a danger for residents when they cause injuries or even trap residents in their beds.

How bed rails can cause injuries

There are several ways that nursing home residents can sustain injuries from bed rails. The resident can slip into the space between the bed and the rail, becoming trapped. This can cause head injuries, neck injuries or asphyxiation.

Getting stuck can cause the residents to try to climb or maneuver their way out of bed, leading to a fall. Fall injuries can be severe for elderly individuals, causing broken bones or concussions.

In more serious cases, a nursing home resident can experience extreme anxiety, have a panic attack or go into cardiac arrest.

These situations commonly occur when nursing home staff do not use the bed rails how they should be used or fail to follow proper instructions. Becoming stuck between the bed and the rails can occur when bed rails are not fitted correctly.

Bed rails cannot be used as restraints

Additionally, bed rails are intended to be used to help nursing home residents in the ways described above. They are not meant to be used to restrain residents. Unfortunately, sometimes this is exactly what nursing home staff uses the bed rails for.

Using bed rails as physical restraints on nursing home residents has many negative physical effects. Bedsores, incontinence, respiratory problems and loss of muscle strength are just a few of the physical effects of being restrained using bed rails.

The use of bed rails as restraints also causes significant mental distress for nursing home residents. Feelings of agitation and isolation are common, which can lead to risky behavior such as trying to physically remove themselves from the restraints.

Inadequate staffing

Inadequate staffing in nursing homes affects the conditions experienced by residents. Staff members at an understaffed nursing home may be less likely to notice if a resident slips between bed and the rails. Residents also could end up waiting longer for a staff member to check on them, increasing the chance they will try to climb over the rails.

Improper installation of bed rails, restraining residents and inadequate staffing are examples of negligent behavior by nursing homes that demands accountability. If you or a loved one suffers a bed rail injury in a nursing home, you could receive compensation through a legal claim for negligence.

What to do after a bed rail injury

Taking the right steps after a nursing home injury increases your chance of successfully proving negligence. Report the injury to nursing home staff immediately.

Document the accident scene through photos and videos. Write down exactly what happened. Seek medical attention for any injuries and follow your doctor’s instructions. Do not admit fault for the accident. An apology for moving your rails and falling out of bed cold damage your case for negligence.

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