Bed Rail Entrapment in Nursing Homes

Bed rails prevent patients from rolling out of bed onto the floor. Some individuals with mobility issues can use a bed rail as leverage to turn themselves into a more comfortable position. They also help patients lift themselves to a sitting position to exit the bed safely.

However, severe injuries could occur if a person gets trapped in a bed rail. An older adult might get a hand, foot, or limb stuck in the openings between rails or between the frame and rails. Nursing home patients often fall over the bed rail onto the floor when attempting to free themselves, potentially causing hip fractures, subdural hematomas, and other severe injuries. Patients sometimes get their heads stuck in the space between the mattress and the bedframe or rail, which could cause suffocation and death.

Bed rails are inappropriate for some patients. Individuals who suffer from agitation or dementia are more likely to suffer bed rail injuries because they can panic when they recognize they cannot get out of bed. Similarly, nursing homes should not install bed rails for incontinent patients, who might try to get out of bed themselves if they must use the bathroom. A nursing home attorney could review a patient’s records to determine whether installing bed rails was appropriate in their specific case.