Elderly people are more susceptible to falling and receiving severe injuries, from what seems like a minor fall. They are more fragile and more likely to break bones, fracture hips and even experience head injuries. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons shows that there are about 380,000 hip fracture cases each year. So, where do these accidents usually occur?
Nursing home facilities. Nursing homes are supposed to have the most monitoring of any elderly facility – yet the most injuries ensue here.
Federal law mandates that nursing homes are required to have their facilities are safe and free of accident hazards. Not only are the facilities to be adequate, but a staff member is to conduct proper and consistent monitoring to prevent any accidents or falls – especially for those who have a history of falling or unstable conditions.
If there are many regulations, such as these in place, why do falls occur so frequently? Well, there are many factors to take into consideration. Some residents are not adequately assessed, therefore are not attended on as much as necessary. This goes back to the efficiency of the nursing home staff members. Another factor includes residents’ beds not being equipped with safety devices or bed rails. The beds can be a main cause of injury because if a nurse fails to install proper alarm systems, does not use crash mats and/or raises the bed too high, the elderly person can easily fall.
Due to their fragile state, bruises and broken bones can easily cause
head injuries and more. This can also prolong pain, suffering and depletion of life.
It is estimated that 30 percent of people over 65 will fall annually. This equates to about 433,000 hospitalizations each year – most of which are
completely preventable.
If your loved one has been injured, you should take action immediately to prevent further physical and mental destruction. Yes, of course, accidents do happen. However, most can be prevented by appropriate supervision.
Category: Nursing Home Neglect
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