Falls are the leading cause of death for individuals age 65 and older. The death rate for seniors has increased by 30 percent between 2007 and 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Every year, three million older people are treated in emergency rooms for fall injuries. Understanding risk factors associated with falls and recognizing ways to reduce these falls can help protect nursing home residents.
If your loved one was injured by a fall that you believe was caused by nursing home negligence, an experienced Phoenix nursing home abuse attorney at Phillips Law Group can help.
Falls happen more often in nursing homes than in the community. Nursing home residents may have existing medical problems that make them more prone to falling. They are often less mobile and older. They may also suffer from chronic diseases, cognitive decline or the inability to perform daily tasks.
Some risk factors that contribute to falling include:
Many falls are caused by a combination of factors. Reducing these risks can help protect nursing home residents.
However, many falls in nursing homes are due to the nursing home’s negligence. Nursing homes are responsible for establishing fall prevention programs. Nursing homes must assess new residents for their possible fall risk. They should review their medication list to see if they are at an increased fall risk. Additionally, nursing home staff should be educated about potential fall problems. When these measures are not taken, residents can become injured.
Falls can lead to significant injuries, especially for the elderly or infirm. Some of the consequences of falls include:
Many falls can be prevented. Some ways to reduce falls in nursing homes include the following:
If your loved one fell in a nursing home, it may be an indication that the nursing home was not properly caring for your loved one. At Phillips Law Group, we can investigate your claim and determine if nursing home negligence played a part. We have helped many families recover compensation after nursing home residents were injured due to the carelessness of facilities.
We can discuss your case during a free, no-obligation consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so we will not charge any attorney fees until we have successfully recovered compensation on your behalf.
Give us a call at 1-800-706-3000 or fill out our Free Case Evaluation form today.