Drive Medical Pressure Sensitive Bed/Chair Patient Alarm

Model: 13606

11" × 30" Pressure-Sensitive Pad  |  Audio Alarm  |  On/Off Switch  |  Low Battery Warning  |  9V Battery Included  |  1 lb  |  Fall Prevention  |  Home & Facility Use  |  By Drive Medical

The Drive Medical Pressure Sensitive Bed/Chair Patient Alarm alerts caregivers with an audible alarm when a patient or resident rises from a bed or chair unassisted. The 11"×30" pressure-sensitive pad is placed under the mattress or on the chair seat and connects via cord to the alarm unit. When the patient's weight is removed from the pad — as they get up — the alarm sounds, giving caregivers time to respond and prevent a fall. The alarm unit features an audible safety alert, on/off switch, and low battery warning indicator. Lightweight at 1 lb. 9V battery included. Suitable for home care, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospital fall prevention programs. Available with or without reset button and in bed or chair pad sizes. 6-month limited warranty. By Drive Medical.

Specifications

Available Models in This Series

Not sure which model is right for your patient or setting? Call us at 1-866-218-0902

Key Features

• Pressure-sensitive alarm activation — the pad detects the patient's weight; when weight is removed (patient rises), the alarm sounds immediately; no motion sensor lag or delay in activation
• 11" × 30" pad — sized for placement under the mattress across the torso zone of a bed, or on the seat surface of a chair, wheelchair, or recliner
• Audible safety alert — loud enough for caregiver monitoring from an adjacent room or nurse station
• On/Off switch — enables caregivers to deactivate the alarm for planned transfers without triggering false alerts
• Low battery warning — alarm indicates when the 9V battery needs replacement
• Corded pad-to-alarm connection — reliable wired connection between the pad and the alarm unit; no wireless signal dependency or pairing required
• 9V battery included — ready to use out of the box
• Lightweight at 1 lb — easy to place, reposition, and transport between rooms
• No reset button (Model 13606) — alarm continues sounding until the caregiver manually turns it off; ensures the alert is not missed; reset button version (Model 13609) available separately
• Multiple use environments — appropriate for bed, chair, wheelchair, and recliner use
• By Drive Medical | 6-month limited warranty

Clinical FAQs

How does the pressure-sensitive pad alarm work and where is it placed?

The alarm system has two components: the pressure-sensitive pad and the alarm unit. The pad contains a pressure-responsive switch that completes an electrical circuit when the patient's body weight is applied to it. When the patient rises and their weight leaves the pad, the circuit opens, triggering the alarm unit to sound. For bed use, the pad is typically placed on top of the mattress and covered with a sheet, positioned under the patient's torso — approximately at mid-back to upper thigh level. When the patient sits up and shifts their weight off the pad, the alarm activates. For chair and wheelchair use, the pad is placed on the seat surface under the patient. A thin cover or single layer of sheet can be placed over the pad without interfering with pressure sensitivity. The cord connecting the pad to the alarm unit should be routed to avoid creating a tripping hazard — secured along the side of the mattress or chair frame. The alarm unit clips to the bed frame, wheelchair handle, or nearby surface within cord reach.

Should I choose the model with or without a reset button?

The choice between the non-reset (13606) and reset button (13609) versions depends on the care environment and clinical intent. In the no-reset model (13606), once the alarm activates, it continues sounding until the caregiver manually switches it off at the alarm unit. This ensures the alarm cannot be silenced remotely or at the pad — the caregiver must physically reach the unit to turn it off, confirming they have responded to the alarm location. This is the preferred configuration in facility settings where ensuring caregiver response is critical, or for patients at high fall risk where the alarm must not be silenced prematurely. In the reset button model (13609), an additional button on the alarm unit or pad allows the alarm to be reset after the patient returns to the bed or chair. This is useful in home care settings where the caregiver and patient may be in the same room, in situations where false alarms from repositioning are common, or where the caregiver prefers to reset the alarm after confirming the patient is safe without hunting for the on/off switch. For most institutional fall prevention programs, the no-reset model is the standard choice.

What patient populations and care settings is this alarm appropriate for?

The Drive Medical pressure-sensitive bed/chair alarm is appropriate for any care setting where a patient or resident requires monitoring for unassisted bed or chair exit — including home care environments supervised by a family caregiver, assisted living and memory care facilities, skilled nursing facilities and long-term care, acute hospital settings for fall risk patients, and rehabilitation settings during post-surgical or post-stroke recovery. It is particularly suited for patients with dementia or cognitive impairment who may not communicate their intent to rise, patients with fall risk from medication effects (sedatives, diuretics, antihypertensives), patients in post-operative recovery with activity restrictions, and patients with balance or mobility impairments who require supervision for transfers. The alarm does not prevent falls — it alerts caregivers so they can respond and assist the patient before or immediately after they attempt to stand. It is a monitoring tool, not a physical restraint. For facilities operating under restraint-free or least-restrictive care policies, the alarm satisfies the fall prevention monitoring requirement without physical limitation of the patient's movement.

Questions about patient alarm selection, pad sizing, or fall prevention products? Call our product specialists: 1-866-218-0902  |  Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 9am–3pm EST