Preventing Falls

Tufts Medical Center is committed to reducing patient falls and educating patients and their families / caregivers about fall risk reduction strategies. 

What we are doing to improve 

As part of Tufts Medical Center's fall prevention program, the nursing staff assesses each patient every day for risk of falling. If you are identified as being at risk, the nurses will implement a variety of interventions to decrease the risk of falling. 

These interventions include things like:

• Placing a yellow caution sign at the foot of the bed to remind you to ask for help.
  
  
• Using an alarm system that will notify staff if you get out of bed without help.
  
  
• Consulting Physical Therapy to evaluate and treat any mobility problems you have.
  
  
• Offering you the chance to use the bathroom regularly

We might ask you to wear a yellow wristband and yellow slippers. These things remind you, your family and hospital staff that you may need help walking or getting out of bed. 

What you can do to help

In the hospital, you are in unfamiliar surroundings. Getting around is not the same as it is at home. You may be taking medications that make you sleepy or disoriented. You may be connected to IVs or other medical equipment.

Please take the following precautions:

• Ask for assistance from the nursing staff, especially at night. 
  
  
• Ask a staff member to make sure your call button, telephone and other personal items are near you.
  
  
• Ask your nurse to make sure that your bed is in the lowest position. 
  
  
• Sit at the edge of the bed for a few minutes before getting up to avoid feeling dizzy.
  
  
• Report any spills or objects that are on the floor.
  
  
• Wear non-skid footwear.
  
  
• Make sure you have adequate light to see.
  
  
• Ask a staff member to assist you with, or move, any equipment before you get out of bed.
  
  
• Use your hearing aid, glasses, walker or cane.