Nurse Call Pressure Pad - an immediate alert system for patient movement and fall prevention.
- Triggers Alert When Stepped On - Not When Weight Is Removed - the Nurse Call Floor Pressure Pad operates on the opposite detection principle from the Seat Alarm (ID 281) and Bed Alarm (ID 282); those devices detect when a resident's weight is removed from a surface, signalling departure; this floor pad detects when pressure is applied to it - when the resident steps onto the pad after leaving their bed or chair; the resident must physically stand and step on the pad for the alert to trigger, which means the alert confirms that the resident is on their feet on the floor rather than inferring it from the departure from the seating surface.
- Placed on the Floor Beside the Bed or Chair for Step-On Detection - the pad is positioned on the floor at the likely first step point when a resident leaves their bed or chair unsupervised - typically immediately beside the bed, beside the chair, or at the doorway of the room if wandering toward the corridor is the monitoring concern; the low-profile design sits flush with the floor surface and does not create a trip hazard; the placement position must be confirmed as the natural step-on path for the specific resident's typical exit direction, which may be assessed by observing or asking the resident about their typical rising and walking direction.
- Ideal for Residents at Risk of Wandering or Unsupervised Ambulation - the floor pressure pad is particularly indicated for residents with dementia or cognitive impairment who leave their bed or chair and attempt to walk independently during periods of confusion, including at night; for these residents, the fall risk is not from the act of leaving the bed but from the subsequent unsupervised ambulation where falls are most likely; the floor pad detects the floor contact at the moment of unsupervised standing, allowing a carer response before the resident progresses further.
- Nurse Call Compatible - Durable - NICE NG45 - NCL-HJM301 - connects to most nurse call systems; durable, discreet, easy-to-clean surface; MCA 2005 assessment required where the resident lacks capacity; NICE NG45 falls risk assessment required before deployment; product code NCL-HJM301.
Nurse Call Floor Pressure Pad - Step-On Alert - Floor Beside Bed or Chair - Wandering Prevention
The Nurse Call Floor Pressure Pad triggers a nurse call alert when the resident steps onto it after leaving their bed or chair unsupervised, detecting the floor contact at the moment of standing rather than inferring departure from surface weight removal. Placed on the floor at the resident's likely first step. Low-profile, durable, easy to clean. Connects to most nurse call systems. Falls and wandering prevention per NICE NG45. MCA 2005 assessment required for residents lacking capacity. NCL-HJM301.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Detection Trigger | Pressure applied (stepped on) - not weight removal |
| Placement | Floor beside bed or chair - at resident's first step point |
| Nurse Call Integration | Compatible with most nurse call systems |
| Profile | Low - does not create a trip hazard |
| Reference | NCL-HJM301 |
| Compliance | NICE NG45 (falls prevention); Mental Capacity Act 2005; CQC Regulation 12 |
Regulatory Compliance
The Nurse Call Floor Pressure Pad is a falls prevention aid subject to NICE NG45 assessment confirming the wandering or unsupervised ambulation risk. For residents with capacity, informed consent is required. For residents lacking capacity, an MCA 2005 best-interest assessment must document that the monitoring is proportionate and least-restrictive for the identified risk. The pad's placement position must be assessed for the specific resident's exit direction and step pattern. CQC Regulation 10 (dignity) requires that monitoring is not more intrusive than necessary. Equipment records must note the product code and placement location for CQC Regulation 12 compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should a floor pressure pad be selected over a bed alarm or seat alarm for a resident at risk of unsupervised ambulation?
The three alert devices address different points in a resident's exit sequence and have different clinical applications. The bed alarm (ID 282) detects the moment the resident's weight leaves the mattress - the earliest point in the exit sequence, giving the maximum available response time before the resident is on their feet; it is most appropriate when the priority is the highest possible early warning regardless of whether the resident intended to get up or was repositioning. The seat alarm (ID 281) detects when the resident leaves their chair - also an early detection point, but specific to seated periods. The floor pressure pad detects the moment the resident steps on the floor - later in the exit sequence, but confirming that the resident is physically standing and in motion. The floor pad is more appropriate than the bed or seat alarm when the clinical concern is specifically unsupervised ambulation and wandering rather than chair or bed exit in general; for a resident who is cognitively impaired and tends to walk to the door or corridor while confused, the floor pad placed at the step-off point or the doorway confirms the specific risk event (independent walking) rather than the earlier departure from the surface. In some care plans, both a bed alarm and a floor pad are used together to provide both early warning of departure and confirmation of floor ambulation.
Does the floor pressure pad create a trip hazard, and how should it be positioned to minimise risk?
The low-profile design of the floor pad is intended to minimise the trip risk, but a floor-level pad of any thickness will present some change in floor level that could contribute to a trip if the resident's foot contacts the pad edge during a shuffle or unsteady gait. To minimise this risk, the pad should be positioned so that the resident steps onto the pad's surface rather than catching their foot on the pad's edge; this typically means positioning the pad parallel to the bed or chair, so the resident steps across its width when leaving rather than stepping onto its long edge. The pad should be on a flat, non-slippery floor surface without nearby rugs, cables, or other floor obstructions that would make the overall floor zone around the pad a hazardous area. The fall risk assessment must explicitly address the trip risk from the pad itself as part of the overall falls prevention strategy; in some cases, the trip risk from the pad may be judged higher than the benefit of the monitoring, and an alternative monitoring approach (bed alarm, ceiling camera with movement detection, or increased waking checks) may be more appropriate. This risk-benefit assessment must be documented in the care plan and reviewed at each care plan review.
NCL-HJM301
Viewed products
- Triggers Alert When Stepped On - Not When Weight Is Removed - the Nurse Call Floor Pressure Pad operates on the opposite detection principle from the Seat Alarm (ID 281) and Bed Alarm (ID 282); those devices detect when a resident's weight is removed from a surface, signalling departure; this floor pad detects when pressure is applied to it - when the resident steps onto the pad after leaving their bed or chair; the resident must physically stand and step on the pad for the alert to trigger, which means the alert confirms that the resident is on their feet on the floor rather than inferring it from the departure from the seating surface.
- Placed on the Floor Beside the Bed or Chair for Step-On Detection - the pad is positioned on the floor at the likely first step point when a resident leaves their bed or chair unsupervised - typically immediately beside the bed, beside the chair, or at the doorway of the room if wandering toward the corridor is the monitoring concern; the low-profile design sits flush with the floor surface and does not create a trip hazard; the placement position must be confirmed as the natural step-on path for the specific resident's typical exit direction, which may be assessed by observing or asking the resident about their typical rising and walking direction.
- Ideal for Residents at Risk of Wandering or Unsupervised Ambulation - the floor pressure pad is particularly indicated for residents with dementia or cognitive impairment who leave their bed or chair and attempt to walk independently during periods of confusion, including at night; for these residents, the fall risk is not from the act of leaving the bed but from the subsequent unsupervised ambulation where falls are most likely; the floor pad detects the floor contact at the moment of unsupervised standing, allowing a carer response before the resident progresses further.
- Nurse Call Compatible - Durable - NICE NG45 - NCL-HJM301 - connects to most nurse call systems; durable, discreet, easy-to-clean surface; MCA 2005 assessment required where the resident lacks capacity; NICE NG45 falls risk assessment required before deployment; product code NCL-HJM301.