Safe-Sleeper: Affordable system to keep vulnerable and elderly safe in their own beds in a dignified manner

Two sisters who were horrified when their elderly grandmother was hurt in a preventable fall have designed a product which could not only avoid injury but save the NHS a fortune.

The Yorkshire pair have designed and secured a protected patent for the Safe-Sleeper. It’s a humane and dignified way to keep anyone at risk of falling out of bed safe, and at an affordable price.

Each Safe Sleeper is comprised of the bed bumpers and a top covering, made of non-restrictive materials designed to prevent chafing and bruising. Together, they keep vulnerable adults – such as those with Alzheimer’s, but also many other conditions including the elderly and frail – safe within their own beds.

The sisters, who come from Leeds but are choosing to keep their identity hidden for the sake of their elderly relative’s privacy, have spent years working on the design, which they wanted to make affordable and effective.

They said: “Our nan was a former nurse who went on to manage nursing homes. As she got older and developed Alzheimer’s, she had a series of falls, and then went on to contract hospital acquired infections. We were keen to keep her at home for as long as possible, but knew that keeping her safe overnight was one of the biggest concerns. From that we designed the Safe-Sleeper.”

Years on, their nan is still safely at home, where she and her family want her to be; the sisters believe the Safe-Sleeper will not only keep other families together for longer, but will also be a huge safety feature in hospitals and care homes. They believe that by using their innovative design, the number of falls will reduce drastically, saving money on rehab and physio and reducing the risk of hospital acquired infections, saving the NHS money on many levels.

They added: “Falling out of bed is the second leading cause of unintentional deaths for those aged 60 and above and it can be a serious concern for caregivers and family members alike. Falls cost the NHS an estimated £2.3 billion a year, or £6 million a day.

“With Safe-Sleeper, vulnerable people can sleep in their beds without the risk of falling out and without the need for restraints or constant surveillance from caregivers. This helps with reducing costs and provides much needed peace of mind.”

The cost of purchasing a Safe-Sleeper can be less than the cost of a single agency cover shift or a couple of nights of home care, making it a remarkable investment.

The sisters added: “Our mission is to create products that restore the dignity and safety of vulnerable people while also providing peace of mind for their loved ones. Inventing the Safe-Sleeper has meant that we, as a family, still have our Nan in our home, and that means the world to us.”

Find out more about Safe-Sleeper at adaptcare.co.uk/shop/safe-sleeper