Nursing home residents often live in care environments because they need extra help with everyday tasks and often need more assistance than in-house help or a family can offer. Mobility issues, Alzheimer’s, and other conditions can make seniors more prone to wandering and falls. Aging and conditions such as osteoporosis can mean a greater susceptibility to fractures and bone breaks. If combined with a living situation which includes nursing home negligence or abuse, Hollywood or South Florida residents can be at great risk.
Why Falls and Fractures Happen
Falls and fractures can occur for any number of reasons in a nursing home. Elderly residents may become disoriented or may have vision or mobility issues which affect balance and movement. In many cases, understaffing can mean residents do not have the support and supervision needed when they attempt to get out of bed or when they walk around.
Even simple tasks such as bathing, getting out of bed, walking up or down steps or walking down a corridor can be a danger for someone with a serious medical condition. Good support can help residents get around safely and can reduce the risk of falls.
When a fall does happen, it is important staff take steps to prevent another fall. It is also crucial to conduct a careful medical check-up to ensure no fracture has occurred. Even with a smaller fall, hairline fractures and hard-to-spot breaks can happen. If left untreated, they can lead to complications and can mean fractures fail to heal correctly.
Preventing Falls and Fractures
There are many things nursing homes can do to reduce the risk of falls and fractures among residents:
- Offer correct screening and training when hiring nursing home staff
- Maintain a good staff to resident ratio
- Install no-slip treads in common areas and private rooms
- Ensure residents have supports, such as canes or walkers, if they need them
- Offer correct supervision
- Add railings and grab bars throughout the nursing home
- Offer residents extra support during higher-risk activities, such as bathing
- Adjust support levels for residents based on need
- Offer regular medical check-ups and proper treatment for conditions such as osteoporosis
- Review medications, eye glasses, and other medical situations as needed to reduce the risk of falls
- Ensure residents have correct clothing and footwear
- Maintain flooring and lighting to reduce the risk of falls
- Keep monitoring flooring so spills can be tidied up right away
Has Your Loved One Been Injured?
If you or a family member have been injured due to nursing home falls, contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) to speak to a Hollywood nursing home abuse and negligence attorney. Your first consultation with us costs nothing and comes with no obligation, so you have nothing to lose.