Falls and Injuries in Nursing Homes: How Can Lawyers Help?
Falls are a serious risk in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Every year, thousands of elderly individuals suffer from falls in nursing homes, and many of these falls result in serious injury or even death. Understanding why there are so many falls in nursing homes is essential for preventing and treating falls in this population.
It’s estimated that between 50 and 75 percent of nursing home residents fall each year, with some sustaining serious injuries. For instance, the CDC reports that after one fall, an elderly person’s chance of another doubles.
The mortality risk for elderly persons increases with falls that result in broken hips. Falls cause more than 1,800 nursing home residents to pass away annually.
Sadly, many falls in nursing homes are unreported, and family members may not even know their elderly loved one has fallen. Why, then, do falls happen so often in nursing homes? And how can top injury lawyers help you navigate a legal injury case?
Elderly Persons Are More Prone to Falls
Many health issues known to raise the risk of falling occur naturally as people age. They consist of the following:
- Medications
- Instability and balance issues
- Leg and lower body weakness
- Inadequate vitamin D
- Have trouble walking and impaired vision
Many of the risk factors indicated above are present in many older persons. The interaction of these specific components significantly increases the risk of falling for older adults. Patients who fall in nursing homes commonly have the following diseases in addition to hip fractures:
- Broken bones
- Cuts, bruising and swelling
- Injuries to soft tissue, such as sprains and torn ligaments
- Severe brain injuries that may lead to fatalities, severe disabilities, or concussions
Falling older people experience shock and suffering, which could have terrible repercussions. Although not all falls may be avoided, nursing home staff can take better care to prevent the bulk of them. Why, then, is falling so risky for elderly residents in nursing homes?
What Other Problems Lead to Serious Falls in Nursing Homes?
Even though every nursing home fall is different, the following elements frequently have a role:
- Understaffing. Nursing facilities are commonly understaffed due to financial restrictions and a labor shortage. Patients’ risk of falling will inevitably rise due to spending more time unattended and alone.
- Improper wheelchair and bed height changes
- Inadequate help with bathing, showering, and using the restroom
- Dirty public spaces and rooms
- Using a wheelchair or walker improperly or quickly, poor illumination, unstable furniture
Each of the causes mentioned above increases the risk of falling among seniors. Falls are nearly a given when two or more of these combine.
If one of the abovementioned factors leads to a senior relative collapsing in a nursing home, family members have the right to intervene.
Ensure your elderly loved one receives timely medical attention and a thorough examination if you know or suspect they may have fallen in their nursing home facility. You could sue the nursing home if your relative were severely hurt due to the fall. To have your case evaluated, speak with successful lawyers for personal injury.
Your loved one is entitled to financial compensation for their injuries. The families of those who lost loved ones in nursing home falls demand justice for their loss and damages for it.
Conclusion
Falls in nursing homes are a serious and preventable problem that can cause serious injury and even death. While there are many reasons why people fall into nursing homes, many are brought on by staff members’ incompetence. If a loved one has suffered a fall in a nursing home, speaking to top injury lawyers is imperative to understand if the nursing home is accountable for the injury. Phoenix injury lawyers can help you understand your legal rights and determine if you have a case.
Bossie, Reilly & Oh carry out their purpose of holding assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, group homes, and other institutions accountable for the mistreatment and neglect of elderly and vulnerable persons. Hundreds of elder abuse and neglect cases were litigated by our firm, and we were successful in obtaining numerous six- and seven-figure settlements and verdicts for our clients. Contact us to speak with top injury lawyers!