A Secure Socks Fall Risk Monitoring Program is used by hospitals and nursing homes as way to place fall risk patients / residents into high, moderate, and low risk categories.
Purpose of a Secure Socks Fall Risk Monitoring Program:
- Identify fall risk status and level of patients / residents.
- Target monitoring strategies to those patients / residents at greatest risk of falling
How to use a Secure Socks Fall Risk Monitoring Program:
On admission, the nurse completes a fall risk assessment. The result of the assessment puts the patient / resident into either a high, moderate, or low risk level. Provide the patient / resident with the appropriate colored nonskid socks (high risk-yellow socks, moderate risk-black socks, and low risk-pink socks). Reassess fall risk and appropriate sock color on a regular basis.
- Any patient / resident in the 'high risk-yellow level' cannot be left unattended in the bathroom or in their room unless they are in bed.
- A patient/resident in the 'moderate risk-black level' may be left alone in their room unattended. Patients / residents are able to call for help appropriately.
- A patient / resident in the 'low risk-pink level' is independent and typically only requires universal fall precautions (i.e., making the environment safe to reduce chance of falls, such as keep bed locked and low, keep room clutter free, keep call bell/personal items in reach, etc.).
Posted May 2010
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