Nursing home residents count on staff members to help them remain safe. One way they must be kept safe is through fall prevention measures. When a new resident moves into the nursing home, they must have a fall risk assessment.
If the fall risk assessment shows that the person has an increased risk, special precautions, such as assistance with mobility, must be taken. This is critically important because it’s possible that a resident will fall and suffer a serious injury.
Hip injuries are critical for older Americans
More than 300,000 people who are at least 65 years old are hospitalized with hip fractures each year. The vast majority, over 95%, are because of a fall. Hip injuries are much more common when the person falls sideways.
Elderly individuals often have a difficult time healing from broken bones. This is due, in part, to osteoporosis in some cases. Even if the resident heals from a broken hip, there can still be some limitations after the fall.
Fall prevention is a key
Fall prevention in nursing homes is the best way to prevent hip injuries from falls. When the nursing home fails to do what it takes to keep residents safe, it might be considered neglect.
Anyone who’s injured in a fall, especially if the injury is as serious as a broken hip, may opt to pursue a compensation claim. This can help them to recover some of the financial damages they incur because of the injury. It may also help to prevent fall incidents in the future, whether for the injured resident or others who are coming into the nursing home.
