If you or a loved one has sustained injury or death from falling in a nursing home in RI or MA, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering as well as other losses. We are working with some of the leading nursing home neglect lawyers and there is no fee until you receive an award or a settlement. Please contact us for a free case evaluation.

Falls in Nursing Homes

Have You Seen Evidence of Repeated Falls in Your Loved One in the Nursing Home?
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Why are Falls So Common With Nursing Home Patients?

nurse home staff helping fallen elderFalls in nursing homes are so common because the elderly tend to have more chronic conditions, in addition to the body’s natural wear and tear. Falls in nursing homes are often signs of other, underlying health problems. Falls can be caused by muscle weakness, wet floors and poor lighting, certain medications, and even poor foot care. Falls in nursing homes are easily preventable through proper supervision from the staff members and sufficient training as to the various equipment and protocols. One needs to take these types of injuries very seriously because when a nursing home patient falls, and has an injury, like a hip fracture, the repercussions are multiplied due to their age.

Nursing Home Fall Statistics

According to the Centers if Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,800 elderly people die each year from falls in nursing homes. Astonishingly, nursing homes with 100 beds on average report 100-200 falls annually, 20% of which cause serious injury. Every year, 2.8 million elderly people are treated in emergency rooms for fall injuries. In fact, more than 95% of all hip fractures are caused by falling. These numbers not only reflect how common these falls are, but also how serious they can be.

Physical Restraints and Falls in Nursing Homes

Elderly woman's injured wrist after being restrainedIt has been considered by many that restraining patients in nursing homes may help protect patients from falls. A study by the CDC has shown that this is not the case. According to the CDC, not only are physically restraining patients ineffective in preventing falls, the restraints actually increase the risk of injuries and deaths related to falls. Regulations have helped to prevent injuries to elders in nursing homes, but a small number of nursing care facilities still report an increase in the number of injuries from falls.

Call d’Oliveira & Associates Today!

A nursing home abuse lawyer discusses a case with his two clients.If you have notice that a loved one has been subject to abuse or neglect and has suffered injuries as a result of a fall, please do not hesitate to contact an experienced RI nursing home abuse lawyer. We work with some of the most experienced nursing home abuse lawyers in the state, who charge no legal fees unless you get the settlement or award you are entitled to. Contact us toll-free at 1-800-992-6878 or fill out a contact form online, for a free (no-obligation) case consultation.