Important Elder Care and Nursing Home Safety Facts

Posted On: 10/08/2015
chrysler wheelchair accessible van mobility rebate brandl mobility finance

Learning About Elder Care and Nursing Home Safety from ForMyParent.com 

This week we are featuring ForMyParent.com, a website dedicated to educating and informing loved ones about elder care and nursing home safety. ForMyParent.com has written the following post about wheelchair safety in nursing homes. Be sure to check out their website to learn more about nursing home legal services as well as view a map of nursing homes by state. This unique feature gives statistics on best health scores, highest number of complaints, and other helpful information.  

Checklist for Wheelchair Friendly Elder Care Needs

Many elders rely on wheelchairs when they are no longer able to walk on their own due to weakness, lack of coordination, or a medical condition. Enter any nursing home and you will likely see many residents sitting in wheelchairs.

According to an article published in Annals of Long Term Care, over 80% of nursing home residents spend time sitting in a wheelchair on a daily basis. A majority of these elderly residents are overlooked for therapeutic treatment, such as physical or occupational therapy, because they are viewed as too disabled or too difficult to rehabilitate. While some elders may have little to no ability to walk independently, it’s crucial for elders to receive some sort of movement therapy whenever possible. To simply leave an elder in a wheelchair is neglectful and can be considered a form of nursing home abuse, particularly when the elder’s health declines because of prolonged wheelchair use.

Good Intentions Gone Wrong?

Some nursing home facilities may rely heavily on wheelchair use for a variety of reasons from convenience and easy transport (particularly when understaffed) to safety. While the intention of using a wheelchair for safety might be good, it may result in adverse outcomes subject to nursing home abuse allegations. Too much time in a wheelchair can result in pressure ulcers, skin tears, edema, and bruising. Additionally, residents who spend most of their day in a wheelchair may become depressed, feel isolated, or end up falling while attempting to get out of the chair. Wheelchairs can be helpful in the nursing home setting, but they must benefit the user rather than decrease his or her quality of life.

Appropriate Use of Wheelchair Use in a Nursing Home

The type of wheelchair that most nursing home residents sit in for prolonged periods of time are the sling-seat models with little to no ability for adjustments. These types of wheelchairs were designed for brief transport and are often seen in hospital settings to move patients in and out of a hospital. While customized, motorized wheelchairs or scooters may be more expensive, they are generally a better option as they offer support and some independence.

chrysler wheelchair accessible van mobility rebate brandl mobility finance

Does Your Nursing Home Follow Wheelchair Safety?

Whether you are looking at nursing homes or have an elderly loved living in one, it’s important to know if the facility adheres to wheelchair safety and provides a safe environment overall. One of the best ways to check on nursing home safety is to do research and familiarize yourself with the facility. For more in-depth safety information about a particular nursing home on your list, visit this link on elder safety. A safe and responsible nursing home would use wheelchairs only when needed and do the following:

●Keep wheels locked

●Position the wheelchair on level ground, away from congestion, but not completely isolated

●Use proper seating for comfort, safety, and to use less restraints 

Help keep your elderly loved one safe and speak up if you question the overuse of wheelchairs in the nursing home facility.

 

The above article was written by ForMyParent.com. For more information and to contact them, click here

 

 

Author Information

Katie Cummings
Mobility Blogger

My professional background stems from non-profit marketing and fundraising for a large children’s cancer hospital. Every day I was able to make connections and relationships for kids and their families going through devastating times. From securing small donations to large corporate support, it was all about providing hope that one day doctors and researchers would find a cure. It was truly an honor to be a part of something so important.

Just this past year, I came to work alongside my family for BLVD.com, a website dedicated to offering the latest information and resources for people needing mobility products. This was a dream come true for me as I have always wanted to combine more time with my family while still helping others. Our family has been in the mobility industry for over 35 years with the goal of enhancing the quality of life for people with mobility issues. This is the spirit behind BLVD and what I am most excited about sharing in my blog.

I love meeting new people and have found that volunteering is the best way to learn more about others and myself. Coffee keeps me going as do walks my pup "Kirby" and most of all being with family and friends. I invite you to check out my blog to learn more about how "together we can move through life better!"

About Location Services

Setting your location allows BLVD.com to display local results for wheelchair vans, mobility products, dealers, stores and much more. The default location you are seeing may have been pulled via your IP Address which typically is only accurate within about 30 miles.

Enter ZIP For Desired Location

Cancel Do not update