As a child, you probably fell out of bed a few times. As an adult, it might never have happened or only rarely. So, you would be right to feel concerned if your elderly loved one is injured falling out of bed, especially if it happens more than once.
Falling out of bed can actually become more likely in old age. However, there are plenty of ways to prevent it.
Why do elderly people fall from their beds?
There are several reasons why someone might fall from their bed. The first is unfamiliarity. If they have recently moved in or swapped rooms, they may not have gotten used to the feel and layout of things where they are now. That can easily lead to mistakes when they roll over, reach for something or simply reposition themselves in their bed. This is particularly true if their new bed is a different height or width than the old one or lacks the same safeguards, like rails.
Medication is another reason for falls, especially if the patient’s meds have changed recently. New medication could make them more drowsy, cause them to hallucinate, or anything else that makes them less coordinated.
The need to move urgently is another factor. The weaker bladder that comes with old age may cause a patient to wake up in the middle of the night with an urgent need to reach the bathroom. They might fall in their hurry to get out of bed due to drowsiness, weakened physical strength or an inability to locate the light switch. Confusion due to something like dementia or Alzheimer’s is another possible cause of falls.
Nursing homes know that residents can be prone to falling from their beds so they should have measures in place to safeguard against it. If your loved one is injured falling from their bed, you’ll need to look at whether the facility took sufficient precautions or not. Nursing care neglect cannot be ruled out immediately.
