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Ohio Nursing Home Abuse - Falls and Broken Bones
As we get older, we become more vulnerable to falls and broken bones. Every care and measure must be taken to prevent falls from happening. Ohio nursing homes and care facilities must equip their facilities and train their staff on procedures and protocols to deter falls from occurring.
These are professional care facilities that specialize in providing for those who need it most. It is a reasonable expectation for nursing homes and their staffs to take necessary precautions and safeguards to prevent falls and related injuries.
Falls at Nursing Homes Occur at an Alarming Rate
Nursing home residents are injured in preventable falls at an alarming rate. In fact, Martin Delahunty, our lead nursing home abuse attorney, started focusing on nursing home abuse cases as a result of an incident in which a resident died from a fall. It was the resident's 6th fall at that home!
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 5% of adults 65 and older live in nursing homes, but nursing home residents account for about 20% of deaths from falls in this age group, and about 1,800 people living in nursing homes die each year from falls. Almost every one of these falls is preventable if the nursing home is simply following regulations and sensible guidelines. But, too often, that is not the case.
About 10% to 20% of nursing home falls cause serious injuries; 2% to 6% cause fractures. Each year, a typical nursing home with 100 beds reports 100 to 200 falls. Many falls go unreported. As many as 3 out of 4 nursing home residents fall each year. That’s twice the rate of falls for older adults living in the community. Patients often fall more than once. The average is 2.6 falls per person per year. About 35% of fall injuries occur among residents who cannot walk.
Examples of how Ohio Nursing Homes can prevent falls :
- Using restraints and bed rails.
- Assisting nursing home residents with going to the bathroom.
- Monitoring the physical condition and abilities of each resident.
- Maintaining the nursing home or care facility in a safe and secure manner
The Impact of a Fall on Physical and Mental Health
Falls result in disability, functional decline and reduced quality of life. Fear of falling can cause further loss of function, depression, feelings of helplessness, and social isolation.
If your loved one has fallen or suffered broken bones, you should want to know why. We can help you get those honest answers and take action if there is negligence or wrong doing. Give us a call at 1-888-709-9967 or send us a Website Message. We always offer free consultations.
To learn more about falls in Ohio nursing homes, please visit our Useful Links page and view the list of Nursing Home Abuse Articles.
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