California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog
Falls are a serious problem for older adults in nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Sonoma County and throughout the Bay Area. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls result in serious mobility limitations for about 10 percent of all older adults every year. Falls are responsible for more than 80 percent of hip fracture deaths among the elderly, and they are the reason for nearly 90 percent of emergency department visits for older adults. Falls are also the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries among older nursing home residents.
If you have an elderly loved one in a Bay Area nursing home or assisted living facility, what fall hazards should you be looking for when you visit the facility? Our Sonoma County nursing home neglect attorneys can explain in more detail below.
Physical Conditions That Can Result in Falls
Older adults often take necessary medications or suffer from certain physical or mental health conditions that can make falls more likely or increase the risk of a fall. To be clear, even if a nursing home has outfitted resident rooms and common areas to prevent falls, they also have a duty to ensure that residents have the supervision and care they need based on their health conditions, which could also lead to falls. Accordingly, nursing homes or assisted living facilities can be liable for falls caused by structural conditions at the facility as well as health conditions experienced by residents.
The following are common conditions or risk factors that make falls more likely among certain older adults, according to the CDC:
- Weakness in the lower body due to loss of muscle mass or mobility issues;
- Vitamin D deficiency;
- Balance problems;
- Vision problems;
- Foot pain; and
- Medications such as sedatives or antidepressants that can cause balance problems.
Hazards in Living Areas That Can Cause Falls
Structural hazards, meaning problems in resident rooms or common areas, can also cause falls. Those common hazards include but are not limited to:
- Steps that are uneven or do not have a proper handrail;
- Throw rugs that can easily slip;
- Damaged or torn carpeting;
- Clutter that can pose tripping risks;
- Lack of lighting; and
- Lack of grip bars in bathrooms and related areas.
As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention underscores, falls typically happen because of a combination of risk factors — structural problems at the facility and health conditions. Yet even when it is just one or the other, the nursing home or assisted living facility where the fall occurred can often be held accountable.
Contact a Sonoma County Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney for Assistance
Do you have an elderly loved one in a Northern California nursing home who recently fell and suffered an injury? Nursing homes can be liable for falls. As we discussed above, not only are nursing homes required to attend to fall hazards that exist on the property, but they also must provide resident care that involves knowing about medications or health conditions that can make a fall more likely, and responding accordingly. Falls can alter an older adult’s life, resulting in limited mobility and, in some cases, death. If you want to find out more about filing a nursing home claim in connection with a fall, it is important to seek legal advice from a Sonoma County nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer who can help. Contact the California Nursing Home Law Group today to find out more about the services we provide to elderly adults and their families.
See Related Blog Posts:
How to Find the Right Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect Lawyer in the San Francisco Bay Area
Taking Elderly Reports of Nursing Home Abuse in San Francisco Bay Area Seriously
