Condition:
- Dementia
- Stroke
Challenges:
- Poor risk awareness
- Disorientation
- Frequent falls
Functional benefits:
- Hi-lo function
Description of case:
Dorothy is a 93-year-old lady who lives alone and is supported by her family, who visit frequently, and carers that assist four times a day with personal care, domestic tasks and mobility. Dorothy has dementia, which has resulted in poor safety awareness and poor orientation to time and place. In addition, a recent stroke caused significant weakness throughout the left side of her body. The current requirement is the support of one carer and a zimmer frame for all mobility. At times, Dorothy will attempt to get out of bed when unattended and since she is unable to mobilise alone, this often results in a fall.
Main issues:
Dorothy’s family reported they had significant concerns regarding Dorothy’s safety in bed at night and requested that bed rails were provided. However, the Occupational Therapy Service were aware of the increased risk due to Dorothy’s confusion and did not feel this was appropriate, so instead, they supplied a low bed with a mattress platform height of 200 mm and a crash mat. The family monitored Dorothy’s night-time behaviour over a four-week period and reported their findings. On five occasions Dorothy was found on the crash mat, on five occasions half of Dorothy’s body was in the bed and half out, on six occasions she had been found in bed on their arrival and the rest of the time the family found Dorothy sitting on the edge of the bed.
The family remained concerned about the risk of injury and wished to explore further options.
Intervention:
A FloorBed was put into place for a trial and was set at the lowest point of 71 mm from the ground when Dorothy was assisted into bed each night.
Outcomes:
Since the FloorBed has been in place, Dorothy has not fallen out of the bed and each morning the family find Dorothy lying safely in her bed.
The family has said that they are aware that Dorothy’s behaviours can be inconsistent, however they feel reassured about Dorothy’s safety in bed and that should she roll out at any time, the risk of injury is minimal as the low height reduces the impact significantly.
