Fall Prevention in Care: Choosing the Right Solution for Your Needs

Falls are one of those things that care providers, families and healthcare professionals understandably want to minimise wherever possible.

But when it comes to fall prevention, there isn't a single product that works for every person or every situation.

Someone who frequently gets out of bed at night may need a different solution from someone who is prone to getting up from a chair without assistance. In another situation, the priority may be reducing the potential impact of a fall rather than simply alerting a carer when someone moves.

That's why having a range of fall prevention and patient monitoring solutions can make such a difference.

At HealthCare Direct, we supply a selection of products designed to help carers monitor movement, provide early alerts and create a safer environment for people who may be at risk of falling.

Here are some of the options available.

1. Under Mattress Alert Mats

For someone who is at risk of getting out of bed without assistance, an under mattress alarm mat can provide an early warning to carers.

The Wireless Under Mattress Alertamat sits underneath the mattress and activates when the user leaves the bed. The wireless transmitter then sends the alert to an Alerta Wall Point Receiver, which can provide a local alert or connect to a compatible nurse call system.

This can be particularly useful in care homes, hospitals and other settings where staff need to know when a resident or patient has left their bed.

Why choose an under mattress alarm mat?

• Helps carers know when a person has left their bed
• Sits discreetly underneath the mattress
• Wireless design means there are no cables running from the bed to the receiver
• Can be used with a nurse call system
• Can provide a local alert through the Wall Point Receiver
• Suitable for night-time monitoring

Wireless Under Mattress Alertamat | Healthcare Direct. Healthcare

For people who are more likely to move around at night, this type of solution can provide carers with valuable additional awareness without requiring the person to wear a device.

2. Floor Alarm Mats

Sometimes the best place to monitor movement isn't underneath the bed — it's on the floor beside it.

A floor alarm mat can be positioned beside a bed or across a doorway. When someone steps onto the mat, it activates an alert, allowing a carer to check what is happening. 

Floor mats are particularly useful where the concern is that someone may get out of bed and begin walking around without assistance.

Wired or wireless?

There are advantages to both.

Wired floor alarm mats connect to a suitable nurse call system or alarm monitor. They can be a straightforward choice where the required connection point is already available.

The Floor+ Alertamat has a large 60 x 90cm surface, a non-slip base and an easy-clean antibacterial material. Its light-coloured design also makes it a discreet option for dementia care environments. 

Wired Fall Prevention. Healthcare

Wireless floor mats offer another option where cables could be inconvenient.

The Wireless Floor+ Alertamat uses a wireless transmitter and connects to an Alerta Wall Point Receiver. With no cable running from the mat to the receiver, it provides greater flexibility when positioning the mat and can help avoid trailing cables around the bedside. 

Wireless Sensor Mats . Healthcare

For many care environments, the choice between wired and wireless will come down to the existing nurse call setup, room layout and how the equipment needs to be used.

3. Wall Point Receivers: Bringing Wireless Alerts Together

A wireless alarm mat is only part of the solution. You also need somewhere for that alert to go.

The Alerta Wall Point Receiver acts as the link between compatible wireless Alerta devices and the person receiving the alert.

It can be used as a standalone receiver to provide a localised alert, or connected to a compatible nurse call system for centralised activation. One receiver can be wirelessly paired with up to five compatible Alerta wireless products, with a wireless range of up to 95 metres. 

This means a single receiver can potentially be used with several monitoring devices within the appropriate range.

For example, a care environment could use different wireless devices for monitoring a bed, chair or doorway while bringing those alerts through the same receiver.

Wall Point Receiver . Healthcare

It's worth remembering that wireless products need to be set up as a complete system. The Wireless Floor+ Alertamat and Wireless Under Mattress Alertamat, for example, require the compatible Wall Point Receiver, which is sold separately.

4. Chair Alarm Mats

Falls don't only happen around the bed.

For some people, the greater risk comes when they stand up from a chair without assistance. In these situations, a chair alarm mat can provide an additional layer of monitoring.

The mat is positioned underneath the chair cushion and activates when the user leaves the chair. Certain systems can also reset automatically when the person returns to the chair. 

Chair alarm mats can therefore be useful in communal areas, bedrooms, lounges and other places where residents spend time sitting.

Bed and Chair monitors that can be more effective as they are placed under the mattress or cushion. Healthcare

5. Fall-Out Mats: When the Priority Is Reducing Impact

Alarm systems aren't the only type of fall prevention equipment.

For people using low-level beds, a fall-out mat can be placed alongside the bed to provide a cushioned surface should the person fall from the mattress.

The Fall Out Mat available from HealthCare Direct is made from high-density foam with a wipe-clean PVC cover. It measures 60 x 190 x 5cm and is designed for use with low-level beds where bed rails are not being used. It is also flame retardant to BS 7177. 

Unlike an alarm mat, a fall-out mat doesn't alert a carer when someone leaves the bed. Its purpose is different: it provides a protective surface alongside the bed to help reduce the potential for injury if a fall occurs.

This is an important distinction when choosing equipment. Sometimes you need to know when someone is moving, while in other circumstances you also need to consider what happens if they do fall.

Which Fall Prevention Product Is Right for You?

The right solution depends on the individual, their environment and the type of movement or fall risk you're trying to manage.

Of course, equipment should always be considered as part of a wider falls risk assessment and care plan rather than as a replacement for appropriate supervision, mobility support or clinical advice.

Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference

Fall prevention doesn't necessarily mean completely changing someone's environment or restricting their independence.

In many cases, it's about finding practical ways to give carers better awareness of what is happening.

An alarm mat beside a bed can provide a warning when someone gets up. A chair sensor can alert a carer when someone stands. A wireless system can remove unnecessary cables from the floor. And a fall-out mat can provide additional protection beside a low-level bed.

Used appropriately, these products can form part of a wider approach to creating safer care environments while still allowing people as much independence as possible.

At HealthCare Direct, we offer a range of fall prevention and patient monitoring products for care homes, hospitals, assisted living environments and home care.

Whether you're looking for a simple floor alarm mat, a wireless monitoring system or additional protection around a low-level bed, we can help you find a solution that fits your requirements.

Shop the full Fall Protection Range Here: Fall Protection Equipment for Care Homes | Healthcare Direct. Healthcare