While many of us don’t think twice about hopping out of bed in the morning when the alarm goes off or collapsing into bed after a long day, your elderly loved one may have fear and trepidation about getting in and out of her bed. Due to a weakened physical state, she may be at the point where getting into bed can seem downright dangerous, and getting out of bed can feel impossible.
While hiring a team of 24-hour home care providers is a great way to help your loved one get in and out of bed, especially if she needs to get out during the middle of the night, you can also purchase assistive aids to help her with safely maneuvering in and out of bed. Her 24-hour home care team can also use some of these assistive devices and techniques to not only make sure your loved one doesn’t injure herself in the process. These techniques and devices can also ensure that anyone helping her also doesn’t injure themselves in the process.
Install a handrail
A handrail can be used in several ways to help your loved one get out of bed. She can first use it to pull herself over to the side of the bed that she wants to exit from and perhaps even to help herself roll over onto her side so she’ll be ready for some assistance in sitting up. She can also use the handrail to pull herself up and get into that sitting position, ready to swing her legs down toward the floor.
When exiting and entering the bed, the handrail is a much sturdier support for her to use to boost herself up or down. Trying to use the edge of the mattress can be dangerous because it is a soft surface and may collapse a bit as she tries to use it for leverage.
Have a non-slip floor under the bed
Trying to stand on a wood floor (especially with socks on) can pose a problem for a senior without good footing. Her feet may slide out from under her. If possible, a carpet is best, or a rug that is solidly in place. A loose rug is just as dangerous as no rug.
Have someone help
The best solution for your loved one is to always have someone nearby that can help her get in and out of bed as needed. This can be taxing if your loved one makes several visits to the bathroom at night, so having a team of 24-hour home care providers who are there throughout the night and stay awake to assist in such matters will help ensure you get the sleep you need. They provide a much safer option than a half-awake caregiver.
Just go slow
Take those words “hop out of bed” and “collapse into bed” out of your loved one’s vocabulary and remember that for safety, slow and steady are a much better way to get your loved one in and out of her bed without any troubles.
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