Nursing homes in Chicago and throughout Illinois have a duty to ensure that vulnerable residents receive the proper care. It is a responsibility that goes well beyond preventing abuse—nursing homes have a proactive responsibility to protect the health, safety, and well-being of patients.
Unfortunately, neglect in nursing homes contributes to resident falls. A fall for an elderly person can cause devastating, even life-threatening harm. Here, our Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer explains the key things to know about fall accidents and nursing home neglect claims in Illinois.
Falls in Nursing Homes are a Serious Problem
Every assisted living facility in Illinois should have a comprehensive fall management prevention plan in place. Falls in nursing homes are a very serious health and safety hazard. Elderly people are not only at a much higher risk of falling, they are far more likely to suffer serious—even life-threatening—harm in such an accident. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) estimates that hundreds of thousands of nursing home residents fall each year. Indeed AHRQ notes that “of the 1.6 million residents in U.S. nursing facilities, approximately half fall annually.” The organization also finds that “about 1 in 3 of those who fall will fall two or more times in a year.” Proper care by nursing home staff can reduce the risk of a fall accident.
Immediate Medical Attention is a Must
A fall injury must be taken seriously by nursing home staff. When a fall occurs in a nursing home, immediate medical attention for the affected resident is a must. A quick medical response ensures that injuries are properly diagnosed and treated. It can also help to reduce the severity of the consequences associated with falls. Some of the most common injuries reported in nursing home fall accidents include:
- Deep bruises;
- Sprains and strains;
- Fractured and broken bones; and
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
How Nursing Home Neglect Can Contribute to Resident Fall Accidents
Although elderly nursing home residents are certainly at a higher risk of falling, that does not mean that falls in these facilities are inevitable. Quite the contrary, with proper safety practices, nursing homes in Illinois can go a long way towards preventing fall accidents. Indeed, many nursing home falls can be directly linked to neglect by the facility and its staff members. Some notable ways in which nursing home neglect can contribute to resident fall accidents include:
- Inadequate Staffing: All nursing homes in Illinois should have proper levels of staffing. Nursing homes with insufficient staff numbers on site will (invariably) struggle to provide adequate supervision and assistance to all residents. The shortage of nursing home staff can lead to unmet needs—such as no help with mobility or bathroom visits. That increases the risk of falls for residents who may then attempt to move independently without support.
- Poor Training: Not only do nursing homes in Illinois need enough staff, they need well-trained staff. Unqualified staff members put vulnerable nursing home residents at serious risk. Even when staffing levels are adequate, improperly trained staff fail to identify and address fall risks. Along with other things, nursing home staff training should typically include proper techniques for assisting with mobility.
- Neglect of Basic Needs: Residents may fall as a result of trying to fulfill their own basic needs like reaching for food, water, or the bathroom. If residents feel that their calls for help are frequently ignored, they might take risky actions on their own, which can lead to falls. By caring for the basic needs of residents, nursing homes can reduce the risk of fall accidents.
- Unsafe Safe Living Conditions: Unsafe conditions within the facility itself can also cause fall accidents. By law, nursing homes are required to keep the environment safe and free of hazards that can cause slips and fall accidents and trip and fall accidents. Neglect in this area can include poor lighting, wet floors, improperly placed furniture, or torn carpeting.
- Poor Health and/or Medication Management: Improper management of a resident’s medical conditions and medications can also contribute to falls. As an example, imagine that a resident’s medications that adversely affect balance or cognition are not properly monitored. They may be at higher risk of a fall. Alternatively, if conditions that impair mobility—arthritis, etc—are not adequately treated, a fall may be more likely.
Nursing Homes in Illinois Must Be Held Accountable for Falls Caused By Neglect
Families put an enormous amount of trust in the hands of nursing homes. These facilities must be held legally responsible when a vulnerable resident is harmed because of their failure to live up to that trust. Nursing homes in Illinois are legally obligated to provide a safe environment for their residents. When falls occur due to neglect, it is imperative that these facilities be held accountable. A negligence nursing home can be held legally liable through a civil claim. An experienced Chicago nursing home neglect lawyer can review your case and help you take action to get justice.
Why Trust Kennedy Watkins for a Nursing Home Abuse Claim in Cook County
Nursing home neglect cases are complex—especially in fall accident claims. At Kennedy Watkins LLC, we have the knowledge, skills, and legal experience to take on these complex, sensitive matters. Our Chicago attorneys are compassionate and justice-focused. With a proven record of verdicts and settlements across a wide range of cases, families can count on our Chicago nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers for help with a fall accident claim.
Contact Our Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Today for a Confidential Consultation
At Kennedy Watkins LLC, our Chicago nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys invest the time, resources, and compassionate support that families can trust. If you have any questions about a nursing home neglect claim for a fall accident, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us for a free, completely confidential initial case review. With a law office in Chicago, we handle nursing home neglect claims in Cook County and throughout the wider region in Northern Illinois.