The „Werdenfelser Weg“ is an initiative of the Upper Bavarian Werdenfelser Land. Its aim was to avoid fixations and measures restricting freedom of sick, old and handicapped people wherever justifiable.
Medicines, belt fixings, bed rails, trick locks on doors or front tables in care facilities – much is used to protect people from falls. But are less drastic alternatives also successful and justifiable?
On the Internet site of the initiators of the Werdenfelser way stands: It is surprisingly often justifiable. The procedural approach within the framework of the applicable care law starts with the judicial approval procedure according to § 1906 Abs. 4 BGB, with the common objective to improve the decision-making processes about the necessity of measures depriving of liberty and to reduce fixations to an unavoidable minimum in order to avoid personal or external dangers.
Improved quality of life for elderly and sick people
The Werdenfelser Weg has shown how a small-scale initiative can develop an exemplary function and lead to sustainable changes and make an important contribution to improving the quality of life of elderly and sick people. The initiative has now spread far beyond the borders of Bavaria. In January 2019, the Werdenfelser Weg was already implemented in over 200 judicial districts and administrative districts. The decades-long trend of the constantly growing fixing permissions could be counteracted hereby country widely. This was achieved with the support of the Conference of Ministers of Justice and many ministries of justice as well as with the help and assumption of responsibility of many. In the meantime, inpatient facilities have also orientated themselves towards the values of the Werdenfelser Weg and have optimised their dealings with their residents.
Technical innovations support the Werdenfelser Weg
Technical innovations also help to reduce fixations. This also includes, for example, the intelligent SafeSense Bed Exit System from Wissner-Bosserhoff. As a reliable partner in the reduction of freedom-restricting approaches, the company has already expanded its range to include the SafeSense Bed Exit System, which offers more patient safety without compromising the freedom and self-determination of the residents.
The SafeSense Bed Exit System features:
- Night light automatic, i.e. via a sensor-controlled night light that is automatically activated when the occupant gets out of bed and goes out as soon as he or she is back in bed.
- Nurse call with flexible timing, which can be set flexibly and steplessly from instant call (0 seconds) to 30 minutes
The advantages of the SafeSense Bed Exit System are:
- more security
- less measures involving deprivation of liberty
- Possibility of adaptation to the mobility of the occupant
- Reduction of the risk of falls without disturbance
- faster reaction time in case of falls
- higher safety level for night shifts and weekend shifts
- fewer visits for staff
- Relief for the nursing staff
