While slip and fall accidents can occur anywhere, they are a major threat for nursing home residents. These accidents are more dangerous for the elderly who can suffer permanent disability, reduced quality of life, or death as a result of a fall. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nursing home falls are a major problem:
- A nursing home with 100 beds will report 100 to 200 falls per year, and many more go unreported.
- Between half and three-quarters of nursing home residents fall yearly—twice the rate of falls for seniors living in the community.
- On average, patients will experience 2.6 falls per year.
- Between 10 and 20 percent of patients who fall will suffer a serious injury.
- Approximately 1,800 patients die from falls in nursing homes each year.
Four Causes of Nursing Home Falls
Patients in nursing homes are frailer and often have chronic medical conditions that make them more prone to fall. The CDC has identified these causes of slips and falls in nursing homes:
- Muscle weakness and walking or gait problems are the cause of approximately 25 percent of all falls.
- Environmental hazards—such as poor lighting, wet floors, improper bed height, and poorly fitted or malfunctioning wheel chairs—account for between 16 and 27 percent of residents’ falls.
- Medications can increase the risk of falling. Drugs affecting the central nervous system, like sedatives and anti-drugs, are especially prone to this.
- Other causes of falls include problems moving from place to place, poor foot care, improperly fitted shoes, and incorrect use of walking aids.
When a Nursing Home Could Be Responsible for a Resident’s Fall
Sadly, many falls at nursing homes are caused by nursing home negligence that could be prevented. Nursing homes may be liable for falls if they…
- Fail to provide a safe environment for residents, including not ensuing that floors are not slippery, not providing walking aids, not securing patients properly in beds and wheelchairs, and not supervising at-risk patients.
- Neglect to properly monitor patients’ medications and be aware of any medications that increase the risk that a patient will fall.
- Use anti-psychotic and other drugs to subdue patients who otherwise do not need the prescribed medications.
- Fail to identify patients at risk of falling and to provide sufficient assistance and supervision.
If you fell at a nursing home, you could have suffered life-altering injuries, such as serious fractures, traumatic brain injury, and spinal cord damage, and you may be entitled to compensation from the nursing home. Fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation with our experienced legal team.