logo

Call Now:

(312) 609-0400

24/7
Call Us for Free Consultation

Call Now: (312) 609-0400

Search
Close this search box.

The Dangers of Bed Rails in Nursing Homes

Nursing home bed with bed rails for elderly patient

or fill out the Contact Form

The use of bed rails in nursing homes has led to severe injuries and death. Bed rails are used to increase independence and keep elderly patients from falling out of bed. However, unsafe bed rails can lead to falls, entrapment, asphyxiation, and death. 

Nursing home bed with bed rails for elderly patient

In Illinois at least 10 nursing homes have been cited since 2011 for using bed rails as restraints, failing to protect residents from falls and injuries, and placing them at risk of entrapment or asphyxiation.

Bed Rail Injuries and Deaths: How They Happen

The most common way patients are injured by bed rails is when the head or neck becomes trapped between the mattress and the rail, or in areas that exist between the bars of the rail. While entrapment is possible when a nursing home resident is sleeping, it usually occurs when a frail and vulnerable resident tries to move from his or her bed without assistance. This results in strangulation, suffocation, or cardiac arrest.

Serious injuries may occur when residents try to climb over the rails. Residents with dementia, anxiety disorders, or Alzheimer’s may try to exit the bed during a moment of confusion or disorientation. Falling off the bed can cause serious fractures and broken bones.

The Prevalence of Bed Rail Injuries

Between 1985 and 2013, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received 828 reports of patients caught, entangled, trapped, or strangled in beds with rails. The reports included 155 nonfatal injuries, 531 deaths, and 220 near misses. Each year, about 4,000 elderly residents visit hospital emergency rooms due to bed rail-related injuries. The FDA and CPSC believe the problem is understated because many nursing homes do not report bed rails as the cause of injury or death.

Why Are Bed Rails Still Unsafe?

As early as 1995, the FDA issued a consumer safety warning which met strong opposition from the industry, claiming that compliance with the standards would be costly. To date, bed rails don’t have significant safety warnings and guidelines for the manufacturing process. No analysis has been conducted to determine how much it would cost to reduce the hazards.

In 2006, manufacturers of bed rails adopted voluntary guidelines and included recommended width limits for the gap between the mattress and the rail. But nursing homes often disassemble and reassemble beds when moving them around. In doing so, they end up using the wrong mattress, creating dangerous gaps and an environment for injuries to happen.

Share This Article

As the founder of the firm, Neal has devoted his life to working for the worker. His achievements are numerous and beyond reproach. He is most proud of his work in helping clients obtain valuable benefits, such as a wheelchair ramp to his home or lifetime medical care.

or fill out the Contact Form

As the founder of the firm, Neal has devoted his life to working for the worker. His achievements are numerous and beyond reproach. He is most proud of his work in helping clients obtain valuable benefits, such as a wheelchair ramp to his home or lifetime medical care.

Related Articles

Depressed senior man sitting on bench. Nursing home neglect
Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

Nursing Home Neglect: Is This Silent Killer Lurking in Your Loved One’s Home?

Nursing home neglect is on the rise in Chicago, Illinois, with residents reporting emotional abuse, physical abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Common signs of neglect include lack of basic amenities, unclean environment, unexplained changes in behavior, and isolation.

Cropped of female social worker helping senior woman to walk with walker at home. nursing home laws and regulations
Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

How Nursing Home Laws and Regulations Protect Residents in Illinois

The Department of Health in Illinois (IDPH) conducts annual inspections to ensure care facilities observe state-specific nursing home laws and regulations. On the other hand, CMS ensures that nursing homes that receive Medicare and Medicaid funding comply with federal regulations, like the Nursing Home Reform Act.

A group of seniors smiling together while in a retirement home
Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

What Are a Nursing Home Resident’s Rights?

The Nursing Home Reform Act is a federal law that was passed in 1987 and established a set of minimum standards of care for nursing homes that participate in Medicare and Medicaid programs. It requires states to enforce these standards through regular inspections and monitoring.

Get a FREE Consultation:
We want to earn your business.

    Lawyers logos
    Lawyers logos