When you place a loved one in a nursing home, you trust that the facility staff will protect them from harm. Sadly, resident falls are one of the most common injuries in long-term care settings. Older adults living in nursing facilities often have health challenges that increase their risk of falling, but many falls occur because facilities do not take the right steps to keep residents safe. Too often, they happen because of nursing home negligence. When nursing home staff overlook simple safety measures, the results can be devastating. Broken bones, head injuries, and long-term pain are common outcomes. In many cases, these injuries could have been prevented.
Families may not know what steps to take after a fall, especially when injuries require ongoing medical attention or rehabilitation. A nursing home abuse lawyer can investigate the cause of a fall, review whether prevention strategies were in place, and help determine if the nursing facility is legally responsible.
Since 1968, Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers has stood up for injured underdogs, leveling the playing field with powerful insurance companies. We know that a single fall can change an elderly resident’s quality of life and leave families struggling with medical bills, emotional distress, and questions about accountability.
We’ll review medical records, assess how the fall occurred, and determine whether the facility failed to fulfill its duty to provide proper care. Federal regulations require nursing homes to implement fall prevention measures and individualized care plans. If these measures were ignored, families have the right to seek compensation.
Our firm’s role is to ensure that families understand their legal rights and have the support they need to move forward after such a devastating event.
How Big of a Problem are Nursing Home Falls?
Although nursing home falls may not receive much media attention, statistics maintained by the Nursing Home Abuse Center clearly show that nursing home residents experience falls at a significant rate:
- Shockingly, falls cause roughly 1,800 deaths per year among nursing home residents.
- Ten to 20 percent of fall victims suffer serious injuries, and 2 to 6 percent result in bone fractures.
- Each year, nearly 319,000 older people are hospitalized for life-altering hip fractures.
- Nursing home fall rates average 1.7 falls per bed per year.
- Roughly 1 in 3 nursing home residents who fall will fall again within a year.
- 50 to 75 percent of nursing home residents fall annually.
- Only 57% of nursing home falls are reported.
Beyond the physical injuries, falls can have a lasting emotional and psychological impact on nursing home residents. Many become fearful of falling again, leading them to limit their daily activities. This reduced activity often results in muscle weakness and decreased balance, which unfortunately increases the risk of future falls. Feelings of helplessness and isolation can also set in, further diminishing quality of life.
Preventing falls among the elderly begins with identifying some of the common causes of nursing home falls. Once these causes are identified, steps can be taken to address them and reduce the high rate of injury among a segment of the elderly population.
Risk Factors for Falls in Nursing Homes
Understanding fall risk factors is the first step toward prevention. Residents in nursing facilities face increased risk due to medical, environmental, and staffing issues. Medical concerns, such as limited mobility, medication side effects, or behavioral symptoms, can increase the risk of falls. High-risk residents, such as those with dementia or balance problems, require additional supervision and interventions.
Environmental hazards also play a role. Poor lighting, cluttered hallways, and unsafe conditions make it difficult for residents to move safely and securely. Facilities that fail to install grab bars, bedside commodes, or other safety equipment put residents at greater risk of falling. Another factor is inadequate staffing. Without sufficient staff members to monitor residents, many falls occur when residents attempt to move without assistance.
A proper falls management program should address all these issues. Facilities should conduct:
- Regular fall risk assessments
- Identify high-risk residents
- Put appropriate interventions in place
Nursing homes that fail to follow these steps risk ignoring the protection of residents, and families may have grounds to hold the facility accountable for their actions.
