Elderly can Suffer Fractures and Broken Bones
By California elder abuse lawyer, Michael P. Ehline, Esq. – The senior nursing home resident can suffer fractures and broken bones when the nursing home does not prevent their patients from falling or bumping into things by taking precautionary measures. This is a form of elder abuse because the care facility does not take steps to prevent falls and injuries. The saddest part of this for many of the elderly nursing home residents is that they suffer more injuries after they have become a resident of a nursing home than before they lived there.
Causes of Elderly Fractures
There are some causes of elderly fractures that nationwide research has shown, are common reasons. There are an estimated 50 percent of nursing home residents that fall every year according to statistics. The injuries the elderly person is at risk for during a slip and fall accident is worse than younger people that fall in most cases.
These can be serious elderly slip and fall accidents causing fractures and other injuries like:
- The most common is hip fractures when an elderly person slips and falls
- Skull fractures
- Shoulder fractures
- Knee fractures
Negligence, lack of proper supervision and hazardous conditions are usually at fault. The elderly nursing home resident might get blamed for the fall, rather than being the injured victim. There are places or items in the nursing home that can pose a threat to the elderly if not fitted to their needs.
These can include:
- Improper bed or chair height
- Dim lighting
- Improperly fitted wheelchairs or lack of wheelchair maintenance
- Wet floors
- Broken stairs or uneven walkways
Health, Fractures and Injuries
Fractures and injuries can occur due to care takers that are breaking the law, in the way they care for the dependent resident, and their health that has then been neglected as a result. The elderly person who is in poor health due to dehydration, malnutrition, muscle weakness and exhaustion are more at risk for series injuries in a slip and fall accident. The elderly nursing home resident is also at risk for serious infection if the healing process of the fracture takes too long and can even cause death.
What to do When an Elderly Loved One has been Injured
When an elderly loved one is a resident it can be stressful and emotionally difficult. When they have a slip and fall fracture or repeated falls the nursing home can be at fault. It is their duty to provide care for their elderly nursing home residents in a way that they are safe. Any type of fractures or poor health can be nursing home negligence and they need to be held responsible. The elder fracture injury attorney has the dedication and experience it takes to hold the nursing home liable for their actions, the pain and stress it has caused.
For a consultation with our Los Angeles Elder Fracture Attorneys, today call 888-400-9721.