Re: Care plan issue - Falls

[Corey]

Actually, there are a number of psuedo "Merry Walkers" made inexpensively of PVC pipe & a sling seat, that automatically come with a strap that goes from the bottom structual support pipe to the bar across the front that prevents the bar from being lifted.  It can be clipped or not, depending on the ability of the resident.  I somehow doubt you'd get a citation for using a device that was actually manufactured for that purpose.\ Corey ----- Original Message ----- From: Kathy Archibald To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, December 05, 2003 9:27 AM Subject: Re: Care plan issue - Falls I would be careful restraining her by fixing merry walker so she can't open it.  we received an actual harm citation last year for a resident who continued to fall and we put him in a merry walker and he couldn't get out of it by himself. Kathy Archibald RN Living Center Supervisor FAX 1-208-547-2790 Voice 1-208-547-2771 email [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: Michelle Witges To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2003 7:59 AM Subject: Re: Care plan issue - Falls I want her to ambulate but to do it safely.  As long as she is the Merry-Walker she does fine.  When she gets out of the Merry-Walker she falls.  She is able to open the Merry-Walker without difficulty she is even able to remove her personal alarm so that staff do not know that she is out of the Merry-Walker.  She works with restorative, frequent toileting, close observation, w/c with lap buddy.  We have not tried carpeting the bathroom but she uses other residents bathrooms as well.  Another thing we have not tried is fixing the Merry-Walker so she cannot open it.  How would you go about doing this?  We had maintenance checking into this but they have not figured anything out yet.  Her family is getting extremely upset with us because of her frequent falls not to mention the fact that we are upset also as we are out of idea's. Michelle ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 7:16 PM Subject: Re: Care plan issue - Falls In a message dated 12/3/2003 1:50:20 PM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I have a lady who has had a CVA with paralysis on right side.  She is in a Merry Walker as she is very unsteady on her feet.  She also has a personal alarm on.  She is able to get around safely in the Merry Walker and the personal alarm is to notify if she tries to get up without assist.  Why is she in a Merri-walker if you don't want her to ambulate?