One problem frequently encountered by caregivers is that patients may try to get out of a bed or chair alone, even though they lack the strength or coordination to do so. Similarly, patients with dementia may try to perform kitchen tasks, such as cooking or slicing foods, that they not capable of doing in a safe manner. An Alzheimer's alarm can alert the caregiver to the patient's risky behavior and help curb the dangers posed by wandering. These wireless devices may be used as a mattress alarm or bed and chair alarm, placed in the bed or beneath a chair cushion to send a signal when the patient shifts his weight from the pad. At the bedside, the alarm signals that the patient has left his bed. These senior care alarms are a wireless device and emits a signal both at the location of the pad and at the caregiver's remote location. When weight is lifted off of the pad, alarms sound inside the room and in the hallway with the remote receiver. The transmitter has a range of 100 feet, allowing the remote alarm to be placed far from the patient's room.
Caregivers can sleep and relax easier, knowing that the alarm will notify them should the patient attempt to perform unassisted activities. AliMed® Sensor Pad Alarm Systems are a great option for alerting caregivers to potential falls. The sensor triggers an audible alarm when a patient attempts to rise off the pad. The moment the patient's weight has been removed, the caregiver is instantly alerted by the sounding alarm. Alarm can be set to sound simultaneously at bedside and outside the room at the remote receiver. Remote Receiver will also flash yellow for a visual alert. Alarm is triggered when patient's body weight is lifted off pad. Alarm resets when pressure is reapplied to sensor pad. For patients at risk of wandering or falling, caregivers need to be alerted immediately of any attempt to get out of beds, chairs or wheelchairs. ** Replacement pads available under item #0196...Author information1Department of Medicine for the Elderly, Homerton Hospital, London.AbstractLong-term elderly patients at risk of pressure sores as shown by superficial skin breaks in the pressure areas were randomly allocated to seven low-priced mattress overlays, alternating pressure (AP): Large Cell Ripplebed;
constant low pressure (CLP): Preventix, a 'Groove' prototype, Modular Propad (contoured foam); Spenco, Surgicgoods Hollowcore Mattress Pad (fibrefills). Assessments of the patients' medical condition, nursing management and pressure areas were carried out twice weekly for a mean of 17.7 days. If the pressure areas deteriorated significantly the trials were stopped and the patients were transferred to other supports. Thirteen per cent of trials on Ripplebeds had to be stopped compared with 32%, 35% and 37% respectively on contoured foam mattresses (p = 0.0005), 47% on the water mattress (p < 0.001) and 51% and 54% on fibrefills (p < 0.0001). Respective healing rates were: 45%, 37%, 24% and 20% (p = 0.001). Although the contoured foam mattresses provided better protection than the fibrefills (p < 0.01), only the AP mattress effectively prevented and healed sores in these patients who could not be regularly repositioned.PMID: 7484486 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Publication TypesClinical TrialComparative StudyRandomized Controlled TrialMeSH TermsAgedAged, 80 and overBedding and Linens*Beds*FemaleGeriatric AssessmentHumansMaleNursing AssessmentPressure Ulcer/etiologyPressure Ulcer/nursingPressure Ulcer/prevention & control*MedicalPressure Sores - MedlinePlus Health Information
Looking For A Mattress Topper? The Best Of 2017 ReviewedThe 5 most frequent safety questions we are asked about heated blankets and heated mattress pads: Can anyone use electric bedding? Is it OK to use an electric blanket during pregnancy? Can I use an electric blanket if I have a pacemaker? Why can’t diabetics use electric blankets? What’s the worry about EMF’s (Electromagnetic Frequency Waves)? Who Should NOT Use Electric Blankets or Mattress Pads? Just as with any electrical appliance, things do occasionally go wrong with electric bedding. For example, a control may not work properly, a blanket may become bunched up which might cause an overheated condition or a heater wire might break. Therefore, it is foolish to allow infants or small children to use these products. Likewise for the same reasons, anyone who is helpless, paralyzed, insensitive to heat or incapable of understanding the control’s operation should never be allowed to use these appliances.
Some elderly people with one or more of these conditions sometimes insist on having their electric blanket. Be strong and refuse them. Show “tough love” or you may regret it. Is It Safe to Use an Electric Blanket during Pregnancy? Medical websites differ about the use of electric bedding during pregnancy. Some say: “Absolutely no problem”. Some say: “Never use”. Many say: “Ask your doctor”. We always tell people that in the absence of conclusive proof about EMF’s and to avoid possible overheating of the fetus, it’s better to err on the side of caution and forgo the heated bedding for nine months. Of course, during your pregnancy, you could still use automatic bedding products to pre-warm those icy sheets and then turn it off prior to getting into bed. Can I Use an Electric Blanket with my Artificial Pacemaker? Numerous well-known associations, hospitals and doctors advise that electric blankets have not been shown to damage pacemakers or interfere with their functions (see The American Heart Association and the Mayo Clinic statements).
Although we personally have never heard of any pacemaker problems due to electric bedding, we always recommend that the individual should check with his or her doctor AND the manufacturer of the pacemaker (e.g. Medtronic, St Jude Medical, etc). Why Can’t Diabetics Use Electric Blankets? You frequently see warnings that people with diabetes should not use electric blankets or pads. The reason for this goes back to the warning about insensitivity to heat. Diabetics often lose some feeling in their legs or arms and could sustain a burn if they cannot feel that a blanket or pad has become too warm. Of course, if the diabetic wishes only to pre-warm the bedding and then turn off the electric blanket or electric mattress pad when getting into bed, this restriction would not apply. What’s the Science about Electric Blanket EMF’S (60 Hz Electromagnetic Fields)? In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, some scientists and others began to be concerned over the safety of electromagnetic fields (EMF’s) due to AC electricity.
Various studies in that timeframe had raised concerns over the possibility that the EMF’s generated by power companies’ overhead transmission lines and some appliances could cause cancer or other problems especially in children. The United States government became involved and studied over 500 peer-reviewed papers written on this potential problem. The US National Research Council spent around 65 million dollars and finally stated that there was no conclusive evidence that residential EMF’s play any role in the development of cancer, in reproductive issues or in learning/behavioral issues. Nevertheless, Sunbeam, which at that time was the only major United States manufacturer of electric blankets, altered the design of its products to reduce EMF’s. All blankets produced after 1992 have much weaker electrical fields than their predecessors. The argument over EMF’s has never gone away completely although very few scientists or medical experts continue to believe that they can cause problems.
If you have any concerns about electromagnetic fields caused by AC electricity, you may feel safer with the SoftHeat Low Voltage heated blankets or mattress pads. Their power supply converts the wall outlet 120 volt AC into either 16 or 18 volt DC. You can learn about their low voltage products in our blanket or pad review sections. If you still have concerns but want to experience the benefits of a warming mattress pad, you may wish to look into the ChiliPad™ which has NO electricity in the pad itself. Instead it circulates water through silicone tubes and will heat or cool that water. They are expensive but the company says that they rapidly pay for themselves in energy savings both in winter and in summer. Things You MUSTKnow When Buying Electric Bedding. Carries ALL MODELS of the Award WinningSAFEST Heated Blankets andMattress Pads fromSoftHeat Low VoltageUL Says: SoftHeat'sSafe & Warm TMtechnology uses"Non-Hazardous Class2 Low Voltage" 1. Before You Buy – A MUST Review: the Lead Page of the Buyer's Guide offering:
Major considerations before your purchase; Links to all of our Reviews and Ratings sections 2. Ready to Buy? If you want to see a list of retailers carrying each of the major brands of Heated MATTRESS PADS this year, click Heated Mattress Pad Retailers OR for Heated BLANKETS, click Stores Selling Electric Blankets. The Electric Blanket Institute’s Consumer Guide and Blog text is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike 3.0 United States License. For any reuse or distribution you must make clear to others the license terms of this work. The best way to do this is with a link to this web page. This information has been developed over many years of testing and is presented freely for educational use only and without any warranty of any kind. It is not a substitute for the safe usage practices of your individual product. See our Policies Page for other information including advertising and affiliate linkage. Sorry, all information presented applies only to products sold in the United States.