Nursing homes and assisted living facilities provide essential services for many people who are elderly or disabled. Those who are unable to care for themselves can benefit by living in a facility where staff members can make sure they are receiving the proper medical treatment and nutrition while also socializing with others and participating in activities they enjoy. Unfortunately, some nursing homes do not provide the proper care for their residents. This may occur because a facility is understaffed or because staff members do not have the proper training to address patients’ needs. In these cases, residents may suffer serious harm due to nursing home neglect, including injuries such as bedsores or falls.

Neglect Leading to Injuries for Nursing Home Residents

A nursing home’s staff should provide the necessary assistance to address a resident’s daily needs. If a facility does not have enough staff members to fully provide for everyone’s needs, or if staff fail to regularly check on patients and address any issues they are experiencing, a person can suffer serious harm. Bedsores and falls can affect patients in these cases, and they can not only cause a great deal of pain and discomfort, but they can have a negative impact on a person’s overall health.

Bedsores can occur when a person remains in one position for a long period of time. In these cases, the pressure placed on different parts of the body can restrict blood flow, leading to painful sores. Nursing home residents who cannot move about freely may be confined to a bed or wheelchair, and if staff members do not ensure that they adjust their position regularly, they may experience bedsores in areas such as the back of the legs, buttocks, shoulder blades, or heels. When left untreated, bedsores may cause damage to the skin and the underlying tissue, and they can also lead to dangerous infections.

Here in the United States, millions of senior citizens live in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Placing your loved one into professional care can be an incredibly difficult decision, and once that decision is made, you are putting your trust and faith into the hands of the facility’s staff. Unfortunately, that trust is not always rewarded. Today, falls are the leading cause of serious injury among elderly Americans. In many instances, falls are caused by the negligence of the nursing home staff. If your loved one suffers an injury, it is time to seek out the assistance of a legal professional.

Alarming Fall Statistics

Every year, more than three million elderly Americans suffer fall injuries that ultimately require emergency department visits. In approximately 20% of all fall incidents, the impact results in significant injury. For senior citizens, the physical ramifications of a fall can be life-changing. More than 300,000 elderly Americans suffer broken hips each year. Upwards of 95% of all broken hips are caused by falls.

Tragically, a fall injury can also cause brain or spinal damage. Falls are also the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. After suffering brain trauma, a person can face symptoms ranging from severe headaches to declines in cognitive ability.

Every eleven seconds, an elderly American is hospitalized due to a fall injury, according to the National Council on Aging (NCOA). Fall injuries are now the sole leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries among Americans over the age of sixty five. Throughout American hospitals, an average of 2.8 million people are treated after suffering severe injuries due to falls on an annual basis. Equally concerning is the fact that fall injuries alone account for an average of more than 27,000 deaths each year. 

While fall injuries are concerning for all Americans, elderly men and women are among those who face a higher risk of suffering severe injuries due to falling. Recent studies concluded that falls account for roughly 87% of all bone fractures among those over the age of sixty five. If you or a loved one suffer a fall injury, contacting a competent personal injury attorney can be critical in receiving the help and legal guidance you deserve. 

Most Common Fall Injuries