What makes people fall in nursing homes? At Chicago Elder Abuse Law, our experienced nursing home falls lawyer Chicago has spent years uncovering the unpleasant truth: many of these so called "accidents" are not just the result of age or poor luck. In many situations, these falls are completely avoidable and result from the facility's incompetence or inability to provide adequate care. If your loved one fell in a nursing home, you need to know what happened and hold the irresponsible institution accountable.
Elderly persons living in nursing homes are more prone to falls. Arthritis, poor vision, weak muscles, balance problems, or cognitive issues like dementia make walking and moving around more hazardous. Nursing homes know this. This is why they have to take steps to protect people from harm before it occurs. Even though they are required to do so, many institutions do not provide the safe circumstances that these older people need.
There are numerous main ways that negligence causes falls:
1. Poor Risk Assessment And Care Planning
Individualized care plans that carefully consider each resident's risk of falling should be given to all nursing home residents. This evaluation should look at present medications, brain health, movement issues, and overall wellness. Every time a resident's health changes, for better or worse, these assessments need to be regularly updated to include any new risks. Failure to meet this essential duty by nursing homes puts vulnerable residents at risk of avoidable and unnecessary harm.
2. Unsafe Area
Environmental risks are one of the main reasons people fall in nursing homes. Wet or slippery floors, inadequate lighting, congested paths, uneven surfaces, and unfastened rugs or carpets are all common concerns. People in the sector understand these risks, and they should be actively addressed by following explicit safety regulations and providing regular maintenance. When facilities do not follow these simple safety rules, they allow incidents to happen and purposely put people at risk by being irresponsible and not complying with fundamental safety standards.
3. Poor Administration/Manpower
Many nursing home residents rely on assistance for even the simplest daily tasks, such as getting out of bed, eating, or using the restroom. When facilities are understaffed or employ inadequately trained caregivers, these vulnerable individuals are often left alone, despite the known risks. Just one missed moment of support can lead to a serious, even fatal, fall.
4. Lack Of Proper Equipment
Nursing facilities are responsible for providing and properly maintaining essential fall-prevention tools, including wheelchairs, walkers, bed rails, and grab bars. When these resources are unavailable, are not enough, or are not kept up well, the risk of serious harm becomes evident.
A fall in a care home may have terrible effects. Broken hips, head traumas, fractures, and even wrongful death are all common ailments. These injuries frequently make people dependent on others, cause long-term suffering, and put a lot of emotional and financial stress on their families.
When negligence is involved, the law provides a way to hold someone accountable. Our knowledgeable nursing home falls lawyer Chicago may assist in investigating the occurrence, gathering vital evidence, and building a case to hold the negligent institution responsible. Our approach includes gathering medical data, interviewing witnesses, and evaluating facility rules and previous infractions.
At Chicago Elder Abuse Law, we do more than handle cases; we fight for the dignity of your loved ones. We understand how upsetting and distressing it is to discover that a trusted care facility has let your family down. That is why our nursing home falls lawyer Chicago strives diligently to obtain justice, whether through settlement or in court.
Do not settle for excuses. Contact Chicago Elder Abuse Law if you believe your loved one's fall was caused by negligence. Let us take the next step together to safeguard your family and prevent others from suffering the same devastation