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How Can Nursing Homes Prevent Fall Injuries?

 Posted on September 09, 2021 in Nursing Home Abuse


Chicago nursing home fall injury LawyerYou may be surprised to learn that one of the top causes of severe injuries and deaths in nursing homes is falling. When a nursing home resident is already in poor health, falling can cause excruciating, debilitating injuries. Fall injuries can lead to infection, reduced mobility and independence, low morale, and additional medical complications. Consequently, nursing homes should take every reasonable precaution to prevent fall accidents whenever possible. When a nursing home’s negligence causes a preventable fall, the nursing home may be liable for the resident’s injury or death.

Creating a Safe Environment for Those with Limited Mobility

As we age, our bones become weaker. This means that a fall accident that would only bruise a young person can lead to severely broken bones in an elderly person. Nursing home residents of all ages may suffer from medical conditions that impair balance and coordination. This is why it is so important for nursing homes to ensure that the facility is free of slip and fall or trip and fall hazards. Something as simple as a spilled drink or a loose electrical cord can represent a potentially deadly hazard in a nursing home.

Ensuring that Residents Have Proper Assistive Devices and Footwear

Many nursing home residents want the freedom to move about the facility on their own. Wheelchairs and walkers can help residents move around safely. Unfortunately, many residents suffer from cognitive impairments that impair memory. Therefore, nursing home staff may need to regularly remind residents to use these devices. Staff should also ensure that residents are wearing appropriate, well-fitting footwear that reduces the risk of slipping or tripping. Grab bars, handrails, and a raised toilet seat are just some of the modifications that also reduce the risk of residents falling.  

Administering Medication Properly

Another way that nursing homes can help prevent fall accidents is by ensuring that residents receive their medications on time and in the correct dosage. Fainting or syncope is a major cause of falling and it is often preventable. Giving a patient too much or too little medication, skipping doses of a medication, or giving a resident the wrong medication can lead to fainting and falling. Medications that cause dizziness or sedation should only be used when absolutely necessary and staff should carefully monitor residents who receive this type of medication.  

Contact a Cook County Nursing Home Fall Lawyer

If your loved one fell while living in a nursing home, it is possible that nursing home negligence was to blame. You may be able to hold the negligent facility responsible for your loved one’s injury or death through a nursing home injury lawsuit. Contact the skilled Chicago nursing home injury attorneys at Schwartz Injury Law to learn more. Call 312-535-4625 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Source:

 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/fall-prevention/art-20047358

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