Nursing Home Fall Injuries: A Sign of Neglect

The leading cause of serious injury and death for adults age 65 and older in the United States? Preventable falls.

Nursing homes have a responsibility to consistently supervise elderly residents who are at risk of falling and should be prepared to keep them safe. If your elderly loved one is injured in a fall, it could be a sign of nursing home neglect.

Elderly Fall Injury Statistics

Every single second of every single day, an elderly person in the United States falls. Take a look at more startling statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• One in four seniors fall each year
• Less than half of seniors who fall report their injuries to a medical professional
• Serious injuries, such as broken bones or head trauma, are a factor in 20 percent of falls
• Falling once doubles the chances of the senior falling again
• 800,000 seniors are hospitalized each year due to fall injuries
• 95 percent of hip fractures are caused by falls

Nursing Home Falls Can Indicate Neglect

As the statistics show, falls are likely to happen to older adults. However, in a nursing home, there should be protocols in place as well as attentive, trained staff members who ensure that residents do not fall or suffer from injuries.

If a fall happens regardless, it may be a sign of neglect—which is, unfortunately, more common than you might think in nursing homes. Falls may indicate a failure on behalf of the nursing home and staff to adequately care for residents or, in more extreme cases, outright abuse them.

Pay attention, and if you suspect neglect, make sure to speak your elderly loved one, investigate the circumstances surrounding the fall, ask the staff how they will prevent future injuries, seek any necessary medical attention, and consider consulting legal counsel.

Contact a Nursing Home and Elder Abuse Attorney Today

If you suspect that your elderly loved one is being abused or neglected, contact the Indianapolis Nursing Home and Elder Abuse Attorneys of Wilson Kehoe Winingham. The lawyers at WKW can help you and your family get the compensation you deserve.

Call 317.920.6400 or fill out an online contact form for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

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