November 19, 2013
Home modifications are essential for safety as a loved one ages, but it’s also extremely important to do your research before accepting something as safe for use.
It has recently come to light that portable bed rails, which have been touted for years as a must-have safety device for frail seniors, may in fact increase the risk of injury or even death.
Between 1985 and 2010, almost 1,000 cases of frail seniors being trapped by portable bed rails and 484 cases of deaths resulting from portable bed rail use were reported to the FDA. However, they have been consistently marketed as safe. Recently these claims resulted in a request from watchdog groups Public Citizen and the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care sent to the Federal Trade Commission to stop false advertising.