Nursing Home Fall Downs and Fractures
As many as three out of four people in nursing homes fall each year. That’s twice the rate of falls for older adults living at home, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Only about five percent of people 65 and older live in nursing homes, but falls in nursing homes account for 20 percent of fatalities from falls in this age group.
According to a study by L. Z. Rubenstein, about 1,800 nursing home residents die each year from falls.
A fall risk assessment is a required component of the intake process for each new resident of a nursing home. If a resident is judged to be at high risk for falls, a care plan must be developed and implemented. The plan might include lowering the resident's bed, putting up the bed rails or using a cane or walker. Some medications, such as sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs increase the risk of falls.
Falls can be caused by failure to develop or implement a fall prevention plan or from hazards such as wet floors, poor lighting or improperly fitted or maintained wheelchairs. Failure to respond to a resident's use of a call alarm can also lead to falls, fractures and other injuries.
Fractures
Fractures are of special concern in older adults. Fractures — particularly hip fractures — can lead to premature death. More than 95 percent of hip fractures in people 65 and older are caused by falls. Approximately 20 percent of hip fracture patients die within a year of their injury according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Special padding for the hips can be provided for residents who are at high risk.
If a member of your family suffered a fracture, head injury or died after a fall in a nursing home, please contact an attorney at Dansky Katz Ringold & York, P.C. to arrange a free consultation and case evaluation. We help clients recover financial compensation for damages caused by nursing home negligence.
We represent clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including the South Jersey and Philadelphia areas.
