Hip Fractures among the Elderly
Summary
This article discusses the many causes for hip fractures, which is the leading cause of injury to an elderly individual. The article discusses the ways hip fractures can occur, ranging from brittle bones and osteoporosis to any type of fall. As a result of negligence, nursing home residents are often the victim of hip fractures for various reasons and this article aims to provide information on how they can occur and how they can be prevented so no further injury occurs to their loved ones.
Hip Fractures among the Elderly
Hip fractures among the elderly are often caused by what may seem as an insignificant fall. A broken hip in an elderly individual can be caused by weak bones and/or osteoporosis. Elderly individuals that have osteoporosis are at higher risk of suffering a hip fracture than someone without osteoporosis. Others that are at risk of suffering a hip fracture are females, individuals of the Caucasian race, slightly built individuals, and individuals with very limited physical activity. Osteoporosis is a bone condition that causes frail, thin bones. As a result of having thinner bone mass than normal individuals, those with osteoporosis are at greater risk. Therefore it is very important for a nursing home facility to take care of your loved ones while they are in the care of the nursing home. 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.
Nursing Home Residents may suffer a fall and, as a result, a hip fracture for several reasons. These Include but are not limited to:
- 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
Most falls in nursing homes occur due to negligence from staff or volunteers in the facility. 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.
How can falls be prevented in a nursing home?
- 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
If the proper measures are taken to ensure the care of your loved one while they are living in a nursing home or assisted living center, there should be no reason for them to suffer from hip fractures or any other injury. However, unfortunately some patients in nursing homes are neglected and often left alone in their rooms and, as a result, they may encounter a situation where they have fallen and suffered an even more debilitating injury. If this happens to your loved ones, they are entitled to compensation due to the physical and mental damages they incur as a result of their fall, including fractures to their hip or other bones.
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.
