As our elderly population continues to grow, more and more people are going to be cared for in their homes and assisted living facilities. Here is a question that has been brought in front of the government in the last few years and apparently it has not been answered. Are bed rails a consumer product or a medical device? I remember bed rails on my kid’s bunk beds and didn’t think much about it. The gap between the rail and the mattress never crossed my mind. However, since 1995 at least 550 persons, most of them elderly, have died in bed rail related deaths. Last year, 27 died but more importantly an average of 4,000 people each are treated after they become trapped in bed rails. Between 2003 and 2012, 36,000 people were treated in emergency rooms. The Food and Drug Administration has issued safety warnings but say consumer safety devices are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The commission says they are medical devices and outside of its mandate. The problem is there are hundreds of stand-alone bed rail devices and they are offered at medical supply stores and at discount retailers. The use depends on what is recommended on the manufacturer’s label. Many times bed parts such as the mattress, rails, and frame come from different manufacturers and this causes dangerous gaps in the assembly of the bed. At least the FDA and the CPSC are trying to look at this one. It is certainly about time. If you are going to make a purchase of bed rails make sure you study the situation and your needs very carefully.Bed Rails and the Elderly