Families help their aging loved ones move into nursing homes for their safety. Working adults cannot be physically present to assist an older adult with tasks throughout the day and to ensure their safety.
When no one lives nearby or individuals are at risk of major medical issues without regular care, a nursing home may be the best option available. Nursing homes exist to provide older adults with the intensive support necessary in their golden years. Despite having workers on hand to support them, people in nursing homes are at risk of falling and sustaining major injuries. Nursing homes should take appropriate steps to protect residents by limiting their chances of a major fall.
What actions limit fall risk?
Conducting a fall assessment when an older adult enters the facility can help identify their support needs. Nursing homes may have to help older adults acquire mobility devices, such as walkers and canes. They may need to arrange for rehabilitative support to help older adults learn to use those devices safely.
They generally also need to have enough workers on hand to tend to resident needs in a timely fashion. If people have to wait an hour to go to the bathroom, they may try to make the trip on their own. They may then fall and sustain injuries as a result.
If workers don’t document changes in people’s mobility to provide them with better support, older adults could end up injured. If nursing homes don’t keep enough workers on hand, that can also contribute to the risk of preventable falls.
Family members dealing with the aftermath of a loved one’s fall may need help taking appropriate legal action. A nursing home negligence lawsuit can help cover medical expenses and other losses associated with an older adult’s stay in a nursing home that results in harm due to negligence or outright abuse.