Elderly Falling in Nursing Homes
People 65 and older live in nursing homes, which accounts for almost 2 million elderly residents in nursing homes across the United States. This number is expected to reach nearly 8 million by the year 2030. One of the leading causes of deaths in nursing homes according the Center for Disease control is falls in nursing homes. That accounts for almost 20 percent of deaths in nursing homes or 2 out of 3 residents yearly. Falls may not appear to be a huge issue but among people living in nursing homes it could result in heavy consequences that decrease the quality of life for the individual. Although a resident in a nursing home 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 a nursing home should care for your family member while in a nursing home 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 Nursing Home Advocate Attorney can help you.
Why do nursing home patients 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 a nursing home occurs due to negligence. The most common negligence is poor environment and the lack of adequate attention to each elderly resident. The overuse and misuse of sedative medications in nursing homes is also a major contributing factor, as sedatives (depression or anti-anxiety medication) can lower the resident’s reaction time.
Injuries that may occur if a resident Falls:
- Hip fractures
- Concussions
- Broken ankle, foot, or bones
- Bruising
- Abrasions
- Swelling
- Internal bleeding
- Decreased quality of life
- Fatality
Misuse of restraints
An ongoing battle in nursing homes is the use of restraints on residents. In 1990, the federal government applied more strict laws against using restraints in nursing homes. If a resident is improperly restrained or restrained for long periods of time, it limits their mobility and by limiting their mobility, you limit their freedom and reaction time, thus causing a fall.
How can one prevent falls?
- Monitor medication
- Do not restrain a patient
- 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 Nursing Home Advocate Attorney
Preventive measures are not always followed by employees in nursing homes; 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.
