A prevention alarm tells a caregiver if a patient is in distress.
Using the toilet is a daily ritual, not something the average person perceives as potentially dangerous. Yet for elderly, disabled or hospitalized people, falling off the toilet and hurting themselves is a real possibility, whether the injury is physical or a blow to dignity. Toilet seat fall prevention alarms let a caregiver know that a patient or loved one is experiencing difficulty in the bathroom. Does this Spark an idea?
Alarm Sets
Most brands of toilet seat fall prevention alarms come in sets, including sensor pads and the alarm system. The alarm system lets a caregiver know when the patient gets off the toilet. The caregiver then can check to ensure that the patient is safe. Toilet seat prevention alarms allow the patient privacy in the bathroom as the caregiver does not need to stay with him. Most alarms are tamper resistant, and the volume can be set from high to low. Alarms are wired into the sensor pad, with the actual alarm hanging nearby in the bathroom. Higher-end alarms include interface capabilities so the patient and caregiver may communicate, but basic models simply sound an alert. The caregiver pushes a reset button to turn off the alarm. The alarm range varies with the model, with some designed to alert caregivers several rooms away in a professional-care setting.
Sensor Pads
Toilet seat prevention alarms include sensor pads placed underneath the toilet seat or at the back of the toilet, depending on the model. Additional sensor pads may be purchased as needed. The patient may not know the sensor pad is in place as it is secured under or on the back of the toilet seat by a metal connecting pin or by an adhesive, depending on the type of alarm. The alarm is active at all times for safety purposes.
Maintenance
Caregivers should check the monitor daily for effectiveness. If the patient is in a nursing home or hospital, check that the monitor is working at each shift change. If the alarm goes off, make sure to reset and check it after attending to the patient. Each patient has distinctive habits, physical capabilities and characteristics and health issues that might put them at risk of falling. These factors might change, so assess the patient's needs on a regular basis.
Other Monitors
Falling off the toilet is not the only reason ill or disabled people require monitoring. Some toilet seat fall prevention alarm systems also are available with other sensors, such as for beds or chairs to let caregivers know if a patient falls out. Motion-sensor monitors in a patient's room let caregivers know if a patient is out of the bed; pull-string monitors attach to the patient's clothes let the caregiver know if a patient attempts to leave a wheelchair. Weight-sensing floor pad monitors let the caregiver know if the patient gets out of bed or leaves the area where the pad is placed. All of these devices alert the caregiver if the patient is in distress or in an unsafe situation, aiding in fall prevention.
Tags: caregiver know, fall prevention, know patient, prevention alarms, seat fall, seat fall prevention
