ONE fishing hack is saving Oaks Nursing Home thousands of dollars in repair and maintenance costs.

The nursing home was increasing expenditure, constantly replacing damaged bedside remote controls.

Cords were getting caught in bed rails and under wheels, stretching the coils and exposing wires.

Acting manager of operational services at the Warwick Hospital Scott Carlsson said the damage was causing a safety issue for the facility.

"Our primary concern was for the safety of the patients who are in contact with the remotes on a daily basis,” Mr Carlsson said.

"It was becoming an overwhelming cost that could go towards medical equipment or activities for the residents.”

Gardener and all round handyman at the oaks residency Rod Burraston saw the need for a cord saving device and turned to his shed for ideas.

"We were seeing damaged cords on a daily basis that needed replacing,” Mr Burraston said.

The facilities were replacing up to three or four bedside remotes a week which were turning into a substantial cost.

"A new remote can cost anywhere between $150 to $200, even more depending on the model,” Mr Burraston said.

"The turn over of remotes from damaged cords was getting too much and we had to come up with something.”

Looking into protective devices Mr Burraston brought in a nylon rod sleeve he uses at home for his fishing rod.

After a month of testing the sleeve on a few beds, the nursing home noticed improvements immediately.

"All 40 beds are now equipped with the protective sleeve and we've dropped from going through four new remotes a week to only having to replace one a month,” Mr Carlsson said.

An easy to use sleeves which slips over the remote control reduces the risk of being caught and adds durability if rolled over.

Each individual sleeve cost the nursing home $10 and are purchased locally.

Mr Carlsson said other nursing home directors which visit Oaks said they would be introducing similar sleeve devices at their own facilities.