Did someone you love fall while in the care of a nursing home? Families like yours should be able to trust that nursing homes will provide care, offer comfort, and ensure protection for elderly residents, many of whom suffer from mobility issues, cognitive impairments, and chronic pain.
Nursing homes care for older people, and they also carry a responsibility to ensure that the residents are safe from preventable accidents, including falls. If they fail to uphold this duty, it’s time to speak with a Warner Robins nursing home falls lawyer.
At Schenk Nursing Home Abuse Law, we’re here to equip you with the resources you need and represent you as your Warner Robins nursing home abuse lawyer. With 17 years of experience, we’ve recovered millions in compensation, and we’re here to do the same for you.
Potential Causes of Nursing Home Falls
Falls are a very common accident in nursing homes, though they can occur for various reasons. With elderly residents, in particular, falling can lead to devastating consequences that can threaten their health and livelihood.
When your nursing home falls attorney in Warner Robins meets with you, they will want to explore the potential causes of your loved one’s fall. Let’s take a closer look at some common causes of falls in nursing homes:
- Poor supervision or staffing shortages
- Inadequate fall prevention measures
- Medications
- Environmental hazards
- Physical and cognitive impairments
- Poorly trained or inexperienced staff
Poor Supervision or Staffing Shortages
Nursing homes are often understaffed, which tends to result in a lack of adequate supervision. Residents who require mobility assistance may not receive the help they need to move around safely, which naturally increases the risk of falling.
This is particularly true for residents who need assistance with getting out of bed, walking, or using the bathroom. A lack of staff can also mean residents are left alone for extended periods of time, which makes them more likely to fall if they try to move on their own.
Inadequate Fall Prevention Measures
Nursing home staff members are taught many ways to protect seniors from falls. They are required to take specific steps to prevent older people from falling while in their care.
For example, employees might install grab bars, put in non-slip flooring, or fix wheelchairs and walkers.
Now, if a nursing home fails to provide residents with proper safety gear or neglects to maintain existing equipment when it breaks down, the people they care for could be at a greater risk of falling.
Medications
Many elderly nursing home residents are prescribed medications that cause dizziness, confusion, or drowsiness. Certain medications—especially when combined with others—can impair a resident’s ability to walk or maintain their balance unassisted.
When nursing homes fail to monitor medications or adjust dosages as needed, residents are more likely to fall.
Environmental Hazards
Falls often occur due to hazardous conditions that exist within the nursing home. Wet or slippery floors, poorly lit hallways, uneven flooring, and obstructed walkways can all contribute to a fall.
Nursing homes are responsible for ensuring that the premises are free of obstacles and that the environment is safe for residents.
Physical and Cognitive Impairments
Many nursing home residents suffer from conditions such as arthritis, dementia, or Parkinson’s disease. All of these diagnoses can affect the residents’ ability to move around or maintain their balance.
Residents who have difficulty walking or suffer from memory loss may be more prone to falls if they do not receive adequate care or proper assistance. Nursing homes should be equipped to handle these conditions.
Poorly Trained or Inexperienced Staff
Nursing home staff need to be taught how to care for residents who have diverse needs. However, in some cases, staff members may be undertrained or lack experience.
Unfortunately, this means they are likely less capable of responding to emergencies or providing proper assistance to residents who are in need of mobility support. When staff members do not understand the unique needs of the residents, it increases the risk of falls.
For a free legal consultation with a nursing home falls lawyer serving Warner Robins, call
The Impact of Falls in Nursing Homes
The consequences of falls in nursing homes can be life-altering, especially for elderly residents who already have other pre-existing health problems. These are injuries that people can experience if they fall in a nursing home:
- Fractures, particularly in the hips, wrists, or ankles
- Traumatic brain injuries, concussions, and brain bleeds
- Cognitive impairments, memory loss, and permanent disabilities
- Broken bones that could leave a resident permanently disabled
- Internal injuries, head trauma, or fractures, which might be fatal.
- Emotional and psychological trauma
Warner Robins Nursing Home Falls Lawyer Near Me (678) 823-7678
The Role of Nursing Homes in Fall Prevention
When a nursing home fails to take the necessary steps to prevent falls, it may be held legally responsible for the injuries that result from its negligence.
Nursing homes are legally obligated to take steps to ensure the safety of their residents, which includes actively preventing falls. This means that nursing homes should do the following:
- Provide adequate staffing
- Conduct fall risk assessments
- Maintain a safe environment
- Monitor medications
- Train staff properly
Contact Our Warner Robins Nursing Home Falls Law Firm To Seek Justice for a Nursing Home Fall
Falls in nursing homes are a serious issue that can have devastating consequences for residents and their families. Nursing homes are responsible for ensuring that their residents are safe and properly cared for, and they are expected to take proactive steps to prevent falls.
If your loved one has been injured in a fall due to nursing home neglect, you may have the right to pursue legal action. Reach out to Schenk Nursing Home Abuse Law to hear more about our firm and explore your legal options with a Warner Robins nursing home falls attorney you can trust.