Since january 1st of this year, people over 65 years old had a fall in Europe, sometimes with serious consequences.
Since january 1st of this year, people over 65 years old had a fall in Europe, sometimes with serious consequences.
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Do you have difficulty standing up when you are sitting on the side of your bed? If the answer is yes, your bed is probably too low. The effort you have to make when going from a sitting to a standing position is all the greater as the bed is low.
>> The solution is to raise the bed, either by replacing the footboards by higher ones or by adding wedges under the present footboards. You can also replace your bed with a higher model.
If you feel you are making a great effort when lifting your legs up on the bed to lie down in it, your bed is probably too high.
>> In this case, it is advisable to replace the footboards by lower ones (or to have them cut) or else to change your mattress for a lower one. You can also replace your bed with a lower model.
A soft and fluffy mattress does not enable good stability when sitting on the side of the bed. It can also be a difficulty when moving and standing up from the bed.
>> Your mattress does not last forever! If you are replacing your bedding, prefer a hard mattress.
Be careful with bedside rugs; they have a tendency to slide on wooden floors, pucker up on carpets, etc. They represent a fall risk.
Also read 'Moving about at home'
>> When you are lying on your bed, make sure that important objects are placed within hand reach. Your night table should be sturdy and contain a lamp, your telephone, remote alarm and the objects you are liable to use: remote control, magazine, glass of water, etc.
In the morning, when you stand up quickly, you may experience light-headedness; this is known as the orthostatic hypotension phenomenon.
Does the lamp on your night table appropriately light the room? Perhaps you are one of the many people who do not turn on the lights when they get up during the night?
Lighting is an important aspect not to be overlooked. When you get up at night, your balance is poorer than usual and you attention capacities are diminished. Appropriate lighting does not dazzle you but lights your path enough not to run the risk of bumping your foot against the furniture, knocking objects or tripping over a piece of clothing which has fallen on the floor.
>> Install two-way switches
>> Always turn on the lights when you get up
>> Chose switches (on the walls and for your night lamp) which are easy to use
Also read 'Moving about at home'
You can install the following equipment in your bedroom:
To make moving about and transfers safer and to facilitate movements in bed:
- Footboards: do-it-yourself stores offer a great variety of footboards (height, shape, colours).
- Wedges: wedges can be made of plastic or wood, and are placed under the footboards to make the bed higher.
- A handrail to straighten yourself up: this system is a half-barrier to be fastened on one or both sides of the bed; it makes sitting up easier by holding onto it and pulling yourself up.
- An adjustable table: it is a table whose height can be adjusted, with or without wheels. It makes it possible to put within hand reach everything a person may need in bed. It is very practical to put a urinal, for instance.
- A urinal or a toilet chair: it is sometimes better to use a urinal or toilet chair than to have to walk to the toilet at night, especially if it is difficult to access or on the landing or else if you are in a weak state of health.
- A medicalised bed: as it constitutes medical equipment, your doctor needs to prescribe it. It has a variable height and can therefore have its height adjusted when getting up or lying down. However, some models remain too high for small people; it is sometimes possible to remove the wheels to make it lower.
