The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that about 1,800 older adults die annually in the U.S. as a result of falls occurring in nursing homes. Many others who survive falls sustain hip fractures or head injuries that leave them permanently disabled. The CDC data reveal that a nursing home with 100 beds reports, on average, between 100 and 200 falls a year by residents, and many falls go unreported altogether.
Many deaths and serious injuries from falls could be prevented if nursing homes provided the level of care the law requires, and their residents need and deserve. These injuries are among the most common forms of neglect and abuse in nursing homes.
Typical injuries that result from falls are:
- Broken hips
- Other fractures and broken bones, including broken arms and broken legs
- Subdural hematoma and other brain injuries
- Internal bleeding.
Older people in nursing homes often suffer from chronic conditions that make them especially susceptible to slips and falls. For this reason, nursing homes are required by law to provide the level of assistance a resident requires to move about and conduct his or her daily activities. Unfortunately, many homes fail to meet their obligation to residents due to understaffing, poor training of employees, and bad hiring practices for staff.
The Law
Federal and state laws require nursing homes to conduct a fall-risk assessment on all residents. This evaluation is intended to identify residents who are at risk of falling and establish measures to prevent them.
Unfortunately, these assessments may not be properly performed, and even when they are, preventable falls occur due to understaffed homes and inadequately trained or inattentive employees.
Whose Fault?
Residents who are known to be at high risk for falls must be monitored by staff members at all times when they move about. This duty is often subject to neglect in nursing homes.
Some falls are unavoidable, even with proper care. But, when a care facility is negligent and fails to meet its obligation to a resident, it may be held responsible for the resulting injuries and damages.
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