Improved technology is reducing many of the “fear factors” of alarming/alerting devices of the past, such as false positives, decreased accuracy, or inappropriate reporting. The use of technology in the prevention of falls has met with much interest as technology continues to improve and we are beginning to see improved outcomes from its use. Technology is a large area of focus today.
Largely, prevention measures that are applicable to the environment, when applied consistently, can aid in reducing resident falls. Various programs have been implemented and researched to help inform nursing staff of ways to identify high-risk residents, so that fall rates may be reduced. This paper hopes to provide some specific evidence to show the effectiveness of alarms and how they can benefit residents of nursing facilities. There is also much empirical evidence to show benefits as well. Empirically speaking, many are against the use of alarming devices because they are loud, could possibly cause issues with behaviors in residents due to the sounds, and the perception that by the time they are going off, it is too late to intervene. Previous research in this area has been relatively scant, and often has shown little to no agreement for or against the use of alarming devices. This study focused on looking at easing the contention and providing a basis of use for alarming devices in the nursing facility. Bed or chair alarms have been traditionally used to alert personnel when at risk patients are attempting to rise from a chair or their beds without assistance. The contention comes from beliefs on the use of such devices and whether they are effective means of allowing the staff to know that a resident who is utilizing one is in an unsafe situation. This requires proper implementation and education for all parties involved, and proper oversight surrounding use of the devices.Īlarming devices have long been a point of contention for residents, families, staff, and regulators of nursing facilities. However, alarming devices can be a key intervention in the safety of those residents who are prone to falls. Alarms are perceived as intrusive and the noise from them can be a potential cause of falls. There are “traditional” issues with the use of alarms such as alarm fatigue by caregivers, high costs of implementation, and issues with proper implementation of alarms. Education is a key component for staff, residents, and families. New technology is changing the perceptions regarding these types of devices as time passes. Many facilitators for the use of alarming devices were found, as well as many barriers to their use as well.
Proper information to educate staff and to work past these perceptions can be a positive effector for resident safety. Ascertaining whether these perceptions are true or false via the literature was a focus of this study. Perceptions against the use of alarming devices persist in long-term care environments as they are seen as annoying, costly, and a waste of time to the staff involved.
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