How to Prevent Falls in Nursing Homes

Falls in nursing homes cause injuries, disabilities, and even deaths. Preventing these falls is important for residents' safety and quality of life. But unfortunately, not all nursing homes follow fall prevention rules. This failure often leads to tragic, preventable injuries.

Pierce Skrabanek is here to hold nursing homes responsible for their negligence. With a strong record of wins in slip-and-fall and negligence cases, we get justice for victims and their loved ones.

Don't hesitate to reach out online or by phone at (832) 690-7000 for a free consultation. Your loved one deserves dignified care. Let us help them get it.

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The Importance of Fall Prevention in Nursing Homes

Between 50% and 75% of nursing home residents experience falls each year, which accounts for 20% of deaths in these homes. Survivors often suffer life-changing injuries, like brain injuries and hip fractures. And according to an international study, survivors of falls may experience lifelong depression.

Families trust nursing homes to keep loved ones safe, but poor safety standards often puts them in harm's way. Injuries from falls can cause permanent damage, lowering residents' quality of life. Many elderly fall victims usually need surgery and lengthy rehab stays—all of which can hinder their independence. Understanding common causes may help caregivers with fall prevention in nursing homes.

Pierce Skrabanek has secured over $500 million in settlements for clients across categories of personal injury, medical malpractice, and elderly abuse. Our clients know we are here to provide ample support when they need a compassionate team behind their loved ones.

We understand how falls impact families and provide caring, helpful legal support tailored to each client. Contact us at (832) 690-7000 or via our form.

Common Causes and Risks for Falls in Nursing Homes

Common causes for falls in nursing homes often stem from various environmental factors. Nursing home fall prevention depends on the staff's ability to address and plan for the risks below:

• Health Conditions: Issues like osteoporosis, dementia, and frailty make falls more likely. Nursing staff lacking training in these areas increases resident risks.
• Medication Side Effects: Some medications cause dizziness, making falls more likely. Staff should monitor residents for side effects and adjust medications when needed.
• Environmental Hazards: Any clutter around surfaces or rails can worsen mobility issues.
• Behavioral Factors: Weak balance, unsteady steps, and poor footwear increase fall risks. Proper, non-slip shoes can help prevent slips.
• Lack of Personalized Care: Each resident has unique needs and limitations. Without personal care plans, residents remain extremely vulnerable to falls.

Recognizing and Addressing Abuse or Neglect in Nursing Homes

Neglect or abuse in nursing homes can result from poor safety practices, a lack of staff, and insufficient personalized care. All of these patterns of abuse can increase an elderly resident's risk of falling. When we recognize the signs of neglect, we are taking much-needed steps to ensure the well-being of not just your loved one but everyone in a nursing home’s care.

• Physical Indicators: Bed sores, bruises, weight loss, and dehydration may suggest inadequate care.
• Hygiene Issues: Persistent odors, dirty clothing, or bedding around a resident’s room may indicate neglect.
• Behavioral Changes: Increased anxiety, depression, withdrawal, or wandering from activities can result from isolation or lack of support.
• Frequent Falls and Injuries: Recurring falls or other injuries usually indicate a lack of proper supervision.

Facilities are legally required to assess and address fall risk to prevent injuries. When these responsibilities are neglected, Pierce Skrabanek supports families and gets justice for their claims.

How to Prevent Falls in Nursing Homes with Adequate Care

Preventing falls in nursing homes requires proper tools, trained and attentive staff, a personalized care plan, and assistive devices to keep your loved one safe.  When staff is properly engaged in the care of their elderly residents, medical negligence or malpractice is less likely to take place.

Key Preventative Measures to Keep Nursing Home Residents Safe from Falls

Families must prioritize compassionate, competent caregiving for the safety of elderly family members. The best nursing homes for your loved one will take steps to create personal care plans that include:

• Plans for Environmental Changes: Facilities should have grab bars, non-slip floors, and handrails in all rooms and common spaces. A plan should provide more specific, accessible accommodation for residents who need it.
• Plans for Regular Health Checks: Personalized health checks let staff adjust care to each resident’s physical and mental condition. These checks help families and caretakers monitor medication dosages and inform the family of any behavior that may contribute to falls.
• Provision of Proper Footwear: Non-slip, stable shoes help prevent falls.
• Creating a Safety Culture: Facilities must focus on safety, including staff training and clear rules for addressing risks immediately. More specifically, they must provide a plan for assistance in the case of falls.

Preventing Bed Falls with Proper Furniture and Assistive Tools

Falls from beds are common, especially at night or when a resident tries to roll out of bed. However, several tools are designed to minimize these risks.

• Bed Rails: The rails must fit the mattress to prevent rolling and avoid other risks.
• Floor Pads: Staff should place soft pads in and around beds to cushion falls and reduce injuries or potential sores.
• Bed Alarms: These alarms let staff know when a resident moves from bed so they can help immediately.
• Low-Height Beds: Lower beds reduce the distance a person might fall.
• Toileting Schedules: This keeps residents from waking up alone at night to use the bathroom.

Falls in nursing homes cause severe harm, often leading to disability or death. Preventing falls requires strong safety rules, health checks, and attentive staff.

If a loved one’s fall resulted from nursing home neglect, you must seek legal advice as soon as possible. Your lawyer can better protect your loved one’s rights and well-being through litigation than you can alone.

Preventing Falls with Effective Staffing and Resident Engagement

Understaffed and untrained facilities often fail to provide needed supervision, leading to falls. If you want to understand the capacity and competency of your chosen care facility, make sure to ask these questions:

• Does the facility provide extra staff during high-risk times? Adding support during mornings, evenings, and mealtimes reduces fall risks.
• Does the facility help with hygienic care? Assisting residents with hygienic duties prevents falls that may result from attempting to get up alone.
• Are staff well-trained or equipped to provide mobility assistance? Residents need mobility aids like walkers or wheelchairs to stay safe.
• Will residents receive physical therapy? Physical activity helps residents build strength and balance, lowering their fall risk.
• How does the facility plan to mentally stimulate and engage residents? Reducing boredom and discomfort can keep residents from trying to move independently.

We advocate for families whose loved ones face severe decline due to negligence.

Recently, we secured a significant settlement amount for a claim where an improperly placed peg tube resulted in peritonitis and sepsis, permanently disabling the client.

Pierce Skrabanek's lawyers represent families whose loved ones have fallen due to a nursing home's failure to meet basic safety standards. When you seek compensation, it allows us to hold these facilities accountable and push for safer standards for all.

What to Do if Your Loved One Falls

If a loved one falls in a nursing home, it is important to take quick action. Medical care and documentation are vital to a legal claim. The following will help build your case:

• Documentation: Use photos to document injuries, the time of the injury, and the names of the staff as evidence of negligence.
• Medical Check: Ensure your loved one gets a complete health check, as some injuries may not immediately show.
• Legal Advice: A lawyer can help families understand their options and the nursing home’s responsibility.
• Support for Families: Pierce Skrabanek provides guidance and compassion, helping families seek justice.
• Inform Your Mandated Reporter: By law, mandated reporters must report any abuse shared with them. 

How Pierce Skrabanek Can Help Families Affected by Nursing Home Negligence

Our record speaks for itself. From unsafe environments to neglectful caregivers, we represent cases that reflect our dedication to helping families find justice.

• Case Experience: We secured a $350,000 settlement for a client injured by poorly marked steps and a faulty handrail.
• Compassionate Support: We assist clients in English and Spanish, ensuring clear, caring service.
• Knowledgeable Team: Our dedication is evident in our experience in and out of court. We will work hard to get your loved one a fair settlement, wherever they are.

A Martindale-Nolo study shows that clients represented by a team receive fairer, higher compensation than those who pursue claims alone. Let us be your team. Contact our nursing home abuse lawyers online or at (832) 690-7000 for your free consultation.