Bed Guard for Electric Bed Advice

In her 90s/100s, my grandma would walk in her sleep, so my dad (her son-in-law) actually rigged the bed up with a sort of "seat belt" thing that kept her safe and in place. It went under and over the mattress, was not tight and confining, and she could click the release to get up if need be. It worked better than a guard rail for her.

It’s so difficult. We needed a bed guard on the electric bed at home but provided by NHS. They said it just wasn’t allowed as proven to be not safe and gave us a crash mat. Like I say, very difficult.

I thought it was adult social care, under council services, that's who I emailed regarding aids for the home and they visited really quickly.

OT will help....get GP referral urgently to District Nurse etc. Dont take no for an answer! Shout and shout!m

Look up OT service local to you and ask for a visit. Some are employed by health authority and some by social services.

Thank you for all your replies. I spoke to the Dr's surgery before I came on here and they couldn't think who I could ask! They suggested I have a telephone appointment but it would take weeks. The falls team came out last year but even though we mentioned Mum falling out of bed, they didn't volunteer anything. It also took months for them to come out.
Her bed isn't a hospital bed so it doesn't go up and down but the ends do lift up so she can sit up to get out of bed. She is badly compromised as she has a nerve trapped in her neck so is very weak in one arm so she cannot sit up easily without assistance.
It is just so worrying. The Dr at the hospital suggested a mattress beside her bed to break her fall but there isn't room.

Bed guards are fine for someone who is relatively immobile and who will not try to get out of bed. Otherwise, as others have said, they can be dangerous. I agree you need professional advice.

My OH has a bed that lowers right to the floor in the nursing home, so he could sleep like that and still be comfortable. He has pads and a conveen catheter overnight so he is not tempted to try and get out of bed - but really he cannot even turn himself over or change his position in bed.

Even if she has pads your mum still might try to climb over a bed rail.

I would have thought the hospital should have arranged an occupational therapist to visit and (urgently) sorted out the safest way for your mum to sleep.

It really does need professionals to decide, because bed guards can cause injury if they're not carefully planned and placed.

Could you phone your mums doctor and explain the situation?

OT is required to authorise

However I wish you luck.
I had quite a fight on my hands to get a bed guard for my father's electric hospital bed (at home)

I had to sign a disclaimer.
It stated that in the event of my father attempting to climb over and injuring himself,
I would take full responsibility.

At the time of the request my father had limited movement and could not have attempted to climb out of bed.

The thinking is that the 'patient' could harm themselves trying to climb over the guard.

My mother in law had a crash mat beside her bed, this was at our instance.
The care home refused to install a bed guard.
She also had an bed / chair alarm to alert staff that she was trying to move unaided.

If by electric bed you mean a profiling/hospital bed then you need a specialist item such as:

Aid

You should ask for an OT referral - they will know exactly what to order.