Thousands of senior citizens are injured in nursing home falls every single year. These accidents can cause serious harm, like head injuries and broken hips. Aging residents, especially those who already have health problems, are at even greater risk of being badly injured when they fall.
Some falls happen simply because a resident is older or sick, and they cannot always be prevented. But many falls occur because the nursing home does not take the right steps to keep people safe. When staff do not watch residents closely, when the building has hazards like clutter or slippery floors, or when there are not enough workers on duty, residents can fall and get hurt, even though the accident could have been avoided.
If your loved one fell while living in a nursing home, the facility may be at fault. Depending on what caused the fall, the nursing home could be held responsible for the injuries. Filing a lawsuit or an insurance claim may help you get money to cover medical bills and other costs. To learn more about who may be responsible and what your options are, contact the experienced Virginia nursing home abuse lawyers at Hollingsworth Law.
Common Causes of Falls in Assisted Living Facilities
There are a lot of things that make assisted living facility residents more prone to falling. The good news is that most of these risks can be eliminated or reduced with appropriate staff training and good planning. Common occurrences that can lead to falls among nursing home residents are:
- Overmedication and medication errors: Some medicines can make people feel unsteady, confused, or dizzy if they are not closely supervised. Drugs like blood pressure medication, antipsychotics, and sedatives can all increase the odds of a fall if the staff fails to administer them or properly monitor their residents.
- Trip hazards and inadequate lighting: Inadequate lighting, wet floors, and cluttered passageways can make it difficult for elderly nursing home residents to move around safely and can lead to falls.
- Lack of mobility aids or assistive devices: Wheelchairs, handrails, and walkers should be maintained in good working order and readily available. When assisted living facilities fail to supply or properly maintain these tools, aging residents can end up in perilous situations that can lead to falls.
- Untreated health problems: Issues like vertigo, nerve pain, low blood sugar, or an overactive bladder can make senior citizens feel unsteady. Facility staff need to monitor these health issues and ensure that the resident’s care plan takes them into account.
- Insufficient supervision: When an assisted living facility is understaffed, as many are, or staff members are simply not paying attention, residents can be left alone for extended periods. Falls are more likely to occur when residents cannot get help when they need it.
When a fall happens, nursing homes need to closely examine the situation in order to figure out what caused it. This will help them understand what went wrong and how to fix it so future falls can be avoided.
Injuries Commonly Caused by Nursing Home Falls
Falls happen often, and they can cause very serious harm. Older adults have weaker bones, move more slowly, and usually take longer to heal after an injury. Because of this, falls in nursing homes can lead to major health problems. Some of the most serious injuries from these falls include:
- Cuts, bruises, and skin tears
- Hip fractures
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Emotional harm
These injuries can cause long-term or even permanent problems. This is more likely to happen if the person is an older adult or if they don’t get the right medical care quickly.
Falls and Facility Liability
Not every fall means the nursing home did something wrong. But the facility may be responsible if the fall happened because they didn’t take simple, reasonable steps to keep residents safe. Some common signs that the nursing home may have been careless include:
- Not checking a resident’s fall risk at admission
- Not updating the care plan after a resident has already fallen
- Not helping residents when they need assistance moving or using the bathroom
- Not using fall-prevention tools like bed or chair alarms for high-risk residents
- Ignoring or delaying medical care after a fall
- Hiding or changing fall reports
So, can you file a lawsuit against an assisted living facility for a fall? Yes, you can, so long as the injury resulted from failure to uphold the standard of care or negligence.
Steps to Take If a Loved One Falls in an Assisted Living Facility
Before you decide whether to file a nursing home fall lawsuit, you should take quick action to protect your loved one’s health and your legal rights. You should:
- Get medical attention: Make sure your family member is examined by a medical professional as soon as possible, including X-rays and other imaging tests, if needed.
- Ask for records: Ask for a copy of the incident report, your loved one’s new care plan, and any other changes to their treatment prompted by the fall.
- Take notes and pictures: Ask your loved one what happened and write down everything they say. If possible, take pictures of any unsafe conditions and visible injuries, and write down anything staff members tell you.
- Report the issue: If you think negligence was the cause of the fall, file a complaint with the Virginia Department of Health or the Virginia Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
- Talk to an attorney: A Virginia nursing home abuse lawyer who regularly handles these types of cases can help you learn whether the fall was preventable and whether or not you are eligible to file a claim.
Discuss Your Case With a Virginia Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Falls in assisted living facilities can lead to long-term and even permanent injuries. If your loved one was badly injured in a fall that you suspect was preventable, it is important to act quickly. Contact Hollingsworth Law today for a confidential consultation by calling (703) 401-9970 or filling out the contact form on our website. We’ll answer your questions honestly and help you take the first steps toward building your case.