RE: PADDED SIRERAILS

[Connie L. Frank]

I guess I’m a little concerned about this one. Why padded siderails? Why siderails at all. I’ve seen more dementia people go up over the side rails or crawl out the bottom due to confusion over the years. Why is this individual restless? Can you address that first? Hunger, thirst, bowel or bladder need, pain, fear, loneliness, need for ambulation or activity, infection,… and if restless, why keep her in bed? Why not get her up and around a  familiar environment with familiar staff? Have you tried variations of nightlights, low bed, bolsters, full body pillow, mat on floor and against wall (if bed is against wall), personal magnetic alarm or motion sensor, etc… If the side rail is an attempt to deter her, then it would most likely be a restraint. I’ve seen side rails be a source of anxiety due to the fact that they are in the visual field, possibly blocking the visual field therefore causing stimulation to want to look over to explore, or stimulation that they should be attempting to get up, period.. If all else fails, do you have availability of a low bed?   -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 10:06 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: PADDED SIRERAILS   In a message dated 2/10/2004 1:38:37 PM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Does anyone knows if 1/2 padded siderails for safety is considered a restraint? Patient has dementia, very restless and has a tendency to hit her head on the rail. Thank you.  Only if she could get out of bed or sit up before you put it on and now she cant. Janice Martin, RN Finally someone who gets restraints!!!!