Agetech World explores how effective bed alarms are for preventing falls in elderly people.
While there is no proof that bed alarms prevent falls, they are an important part of digital tools used in home-care services.
People aged 65 and older have the highest risk of falling with around a third of people aged 65 and over, and around half of people aged 80 and over, who fall at least once a year.
Falling in older people is considered a cause of distress, pain, injury, loss of confidence and of independence.
The Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF) reported that from 2017 to 2018 there were around 220,160 emergency hospital admissions related to falls among patients aged 65 and over in the UK, with around 66.6 per cent of these patients aged 80 and over.
So, preventing fall in elderly people is essential for their safety and health. Bed alarms represent a possible option to overcome these difficulties, also if researchers showed its lack of effectiveness.
How do bed alarms work?
Bed and chair alarms are devices that contain sensors that trigger an alarm or warning light when they detect a change in pressure. The sensor pads are generally placed either under the shoulder area, or under the hip area or underneath the bed sheets on the mattress.
Working with changes of pressure, these devices may not be precise in the detection of falls as, for example, adding pillows could affect the accuracy of the alarm.
Can bed alarms prevent falls?
There is no definitive proof that bed alarms can prevent falls. While numerous carers and care homes use these devices as a daily tools, there is no current study that prove that they keep falls from happening.
Despite their unproven effectiveness, bed and chair alarms can work as wandering prevention for people with degenerative cognitive decline conditions. The devices can also be a peace of mind for caretakers and family members.