Older adults in nursing homes and assisted living facilities deserve to receive the highest quality of care. However, many patients and residents in long-term care facilities do not receive the attention they need due to staffing shortages and related issues that often amount to nursing home neglect or nursing home negligence. Fall-related injuries are a common consequence of nursing home neglect.
While it might seem strange to think about a slip and fall inside a nursing home hallway, or a fall out of bed, as events that could lead to serious or even life-threatening injuries, it is important to remember that falls affect seniors differently. The following are some key things you should know about falls in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in Ohio.
Falls Can Lead to Serious Injuries and Even Death in the Elderly
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 25% of adults aged 65 and older will fall in a given year, and falls are among the leading causes of death for people in this age group. Indeed, about 20% of all falls among the elderly result in broken bones or a traumatic brain injury (TBI), which can significantly reduce an older adult’s ability to live independently. Hip fractures tend to be the most common.
Seniors and Their Families Should Consider Fall Prevention Tips
The Mayo Clinic emphasizes that there are a number of fall prevention tips that can help seniors to avoid falls, including but not limited to:
- Making a fall prevention plan with a doctor;
- Doing regular exercises and engaging in physical activity;
- Wear “sensible” non-slip footwear;
- Removing any hazards that could lead to a slip and fall or trip and fall in the senior’s living space;
- Installing bright lights; and
- Using assistive devices like handrails, grab bars, or a raised toilet seat.
Nursing Homes May Be Liable for Injuries from Falls
Nursing homes have a duty to provide patients and residents with a particular quality of care. If the quality of care is substandard and a resident falls because she is not being properly monitored, it is certainly possible that the nursing home is responsible for the injury.
The senior or her family may be able to file a nursing home negligence claim in order to seek financial compensation and to hold the facility accountable.
Contact Me to Learn More About Filing a Lawsuit
Falls should never happen in Ohio nursing homes or assisted living facilities, but they occur with some frequency. Nursing homes in Ohio are required to have enough nursing staff so that every resident can have 2.5 hours of nursing care every day.
When nursing homes are inadequately staffed and a resident falls as a result of limited care, or if a nursing home staff member simply is not paying enough attention to each resident, the facility may be liable for nursing home negligence.
If an elderly loved one in your family fell at a nursing home and suffered serious injuries, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office today at 877.944.4373 for more information.
