According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nursing home residents account for 20% of persons who die as a result of falls. Falls often result in injuries such as fractures or broken hips, and can result in hospitalization, severe pain, and ultimately death. The issue is deciphering between falls that are preventable and those that are not. In most instances, if the necessary care and proper supervision is provided, such as interventions and care-planning, falls can be avoided.

The first step is to actually prepare a detailed plan of care to prevent falls, especially for those residents most susceptible of falling. The next and equally important step is to provide sufficient and qualified staff that will properly carry out the care plan. Unfortunately, many falls occur specifically because adequate staff is not provided to carry out care plans for each resident. For example, when a resident who is known to need physical assistance is improperly left unattended (or her call lights are left unanswered for long periods of time), and that resident falls and fractures a hip, such fall was a result of the neglect of the nursing home, and most likely a direct result of its decision not to hire sufficient staff.

If you or your loved one has suffered a fall in a nursing home, please Contact Us today. As with every other inquiry, we will do a comprehensive assessment, based upon consultations with our team of experts, and advise you on your legal options. If we believe you have a meritorious case, we will prepare and take your case to trial with vigor.