Slips and Falls in Assisted Living Centers
One of the leading causes of death among the elderly in assisted living centers according the Center for Disease control is as a result of slipping or falling. That accounts for almost 20 percent of deaths in assisted living centers or 2 out of 3 residents yearly. However, while these statistics only take the elderly into account, it is still possible for a younger individual to slip or fall and sustain various types of injuries as a result. Falls may not appear to be a huge issue but among people living in assisted living centers it could result in heavy consequences that decrease the quality of life for the individual. Although a resident in an assisted living center may have a disease and disabilities that may factor into the person falling, negligence on the caretakers’ part is also a likely a reason for the fall.
Doctors, nurses, medical assistants or any employee in an assisted living center should care for your family member while in an assisted living center in Arizona. You and your family may be entitled to compensation if the fall leads to severe injuries or more medical complications. An experienced Arizona Advocate Attorney can help you.
Why do assisted living center residents fall?
- Medications
- Poor Lighting
- Lack of assisted walking devices
- Staff fails to respond quickly to calls
- Cluttered spaces
- Malnutrition
- Misuse of restraints
- Forgetting to place bedrails
- Improper bedrail installation
- Dehydration
- Negligence of staff to watch residents
An estimated median of 20 percent of most falls in an assisted living center occurs due to negligence. The most common form negligence is poor environment and the lack of adequate attention to each resident. Even though a resident of an assisted living center may not require constant care and assistance, they still do require limited assistance. There should be no reason why an individual should be left alone to care for themselves in an assisted living center.
Injuries that may occur if a resident falls:
- Concussions
- Broken ankle, foot, or bones
- Bruising
- Abrasions
- Swelling
- Internal bleeding
- Decreased quality of life
- Fatality
These injuries should never occur while your loved ones are in the care of staff at an assisted living center. While it is not always possible to prevent, there are steps that can be taken to try to prevent falls in assisted living centers, whether the individual Is elderly or not.
How can one prevent falls?
- Make sure a person has proper assisted devices for walking
- Clean the environment and personal space such as spills
- Use pads to prevent fractures on fragile bones
- Proper Shoes
Contact an Arizona Assisted living center Advocate Attorney
Preventive measures are not always followed by employees in assisted living centers. An Arizona Attorney in the Tempe, Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale and Maricopa County communities can provide legal information if a loved one or someone you know has sustained injuries from a fall because of negligence. For more information see www.nursinghomeadvocates.com.
