There are many reasons why older adults are more likely to fall than younger people. Vision issues may prevent them from noticing slipping and tripping hazards. Decreased strength may prevent them from catching themselves when they slip or trip.
A changing center of gravity can also affect an older adult’s sense of balance. When they fall, older adults are especially vulnerable to serious injuries, including fractures and traumatic brain injuries. A fall at home could inspire families to move an older family member to a nursing home. They might also fall at the nursing home.
Are those falls generally preventable?
Proper support limits fall risk
Technically, nursing homes cannot fully control the behavior of residents, which means there is no way to eliminate fall risks. However, adequate staffing, timely support when requested and appropriate evaluations of individual residents can limit the likelihood of an adult slipping, tripping or falling.
They may need help attending to daily hygiene matters or dressing themselves. They may require assistive technology, such as canes, walkers or even wheelchairs to limit their risk of falls as they go about their day.
Nursing homes should evaluate residents and provide them with enough support to minimize their risk of a fall. When negligent care, such as a failure to attend to a resident who needed to use the bathroom, results in a fall, the facility may be at least partially to blame for the incident.
Reviewing fall circumstances with an attorney can help families protect their loved ones. A personal injury lawsuit to cover medical costs and other expenses can be an effective and appropriate reaction to preventable falls in nursing homes.