CHICAGO, IL – As our loved one’s age, they become more susceptible to suffering from fall accidents that could end up injuring themselves. One in three individuals aged 65 and older have a fall each year which only increases with age, according to the National Institute of Aging.
When placing your loved one in an assisted living or nursing home facility, you want to believe you can trust staff members to provide them with the best quality of care. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Nursing home staff have a duty to ensure that residents live in a facility free of abuse and neglect. Fall accidents at this age can be catastrophic and lead to brain injuries.
Outcome of Brain Injuries from Fall Accidents
Studies have shown that traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can lead to impaired thinking or memory and long-term cognitive, emotional, and functional impairments. The CDC has said that nearly 1,800 individuals living in nursing homes die each year from fall accidents with many residents falling more than once. This averages out to 2.6 falls per person, per year.
Fall accidents can result in:
- Broken bones including a persons wrist, arm, ankle, foot, or hip fracture
- Head injuries especially if a person is on medication like blood thinners
Conditions That Are More Prone to Fall Accidents
Experts have studied the various conditions that may contribute to an elderly individual suffering from a catastrophic fall. Some risk factors that lead to more falls include:
- Use of medication including sedatives, tranquilizers, or anti-depressants. Some over-the-counter medication may also affect a person.
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Lower body weakness
- Difficulties with walking and balance
- Vision problems
- Foot pain or poor footwear
- Hazards like uneven surfaces, throw rugs that can be tripped over, or broken steps
Nursing Home Neglect Can Lead to Brain Injuries
Nursing homes should be free of hazards that could cause a resident to fall and injury themself. Staff should ensure that liquids are cleaned from the floor so that a resident doesn’t slip-and-fall. It’s also important that if a resident needs assistance with getting in and out of bed, for example, that staff is there to help. Otherwise, a resident may try to get out of their bed or wheelchair themselves and ultimately injury themselves.
When staff members are negligent towards residents, it can lead to accidents and in some tragic cases even death. Stories have surfaced how nursing home staff members can become so frustrated that they abuse the resident, causing them to stay silent about the abuse and not seek medical treatment. This type of behavior is unacceptable and is a direct violation of their rights.
Contact a Chicago, Illinois Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Lawyer
If your loved one suffered a fall accident at their nursing home facility, contact the nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at the Dinizulu Law Group to help guide you through your legal options. Our team of skilled and experienced lawyers offer free, no obligation consultations. Call us today at (312) 384-1920 to learn more.
