California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog
When you have an elderly loved one residing in a nursing home or assisted-living facility in Berkeley or elsewhere in the Bay Area, it is important to be aware of certain injury risk factors. In an ideal world, every nursing home and assisted-living facility would be properly staffed and would have employees who provided a high level of quality care to each resident based on the resident’s specific needs. Yet the reality is that nursing homes and assisted-living facilities often have issues that can lead to resident harm. Often, there is no intention to cause injury, but understaffing or burnout can result in a lack of proper attention to residents, which can lead to serious fall injuries. Likewise, a facility might fail to pay attention to fall risks or other injury risks at the facility, such as damaged flooring or liquid spills.
Regardless of whether there was intent to cause harm, a nursing home can be responsible for falls that result in resident injuries. A recent study suggests that facilities may be able to better predict a resident’s likelihood of falling based on arm movements and that physical therapy to strengthen arms could prevent falls.
Understanding the Serious Risks of Falls Among Elderly Nursing Home and Assisted-Living Facility Residents
Falls happen much too often in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, and they are often linked to future harm and even death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are currently “the leading cause of injury for adults aged 65 years and older,” and they are also the “leading cause of injury-related death” among older adults in the same age group.
The CDC tracks elderly falls by state, and California actually has one of the lower rates of falls compared with states across the country. Yet falls among elderly California residents are still very high — annually, about 27% of adults aged 65 and older fall in California, which comes out to nearly 1.5 million people.
How Can Arm Movements Help in Fall Risk Assessment and Prevention
There have been many efforts in recent years to develop fall-prevention strategies and to determine an older adult’s risk of falling. Yet falls continue to occur.
A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences and published in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that an “analysis of balance-correcting arm movements” can help to determine an older adult’s risk of falling and, by improving those arm movements through physical therapy, can help to prevent falls. As adults age, they lose muscle mass in their shoulders, which prevents them from properly balancing themselves with arm movements when a fall is about to occur.
Contact a Berkeley Nursing Home Neglect Attorney Today for Help Filing a Claim
Do you have an elderly loved one who fell at a Bay Area nursing home and suffered serious injuries? One of our Berkeley nursing home negligence lawyers can help you to hold the facility accountable. Contact the California Nursing Home Law Group today for assistance moving forward with a claim.
See Related Blog Posts:
The Hidden Dangers of Weekend and Holiday Nursing Home Admissions in California
Social Media and Nursing Home Abuse in Fremont
