Common Types of Nursing Home Injuries

Unfortunately, nursing home residents fall very frequently. Nearly 1,800 elder adults living in nursing homes die each year from fall-related injuries and those who survive frequently sustain injuries that result in permanent disability and reduced quality of life.

These statistics can be staggering. About 5% of adults 65 and older live in nursing homes, but nursing home residents account for about 20% of deaths from falls in this age group.

Here are three common nursing home injuries to watch out for:

1. Falls: The CDC reports that nearly three-quarters of nursing home residents fall every year. Often patients fall more than once per year. Older people in general are prone to falls due to muscle weakness or gait problems. However, environmental causes including wet floors, poor lighting, incorrect bed height, and improperly fitted wheelchairs can also increase risks of falls.

2. Bedsores: Bedsores develop when a patient remains in one position for too long. Elderly patients who are unable to move on their own often require frequent help turning over or shifting positions to alleviate pressure. If your loved one is developing bedsores, it may be a sign that the nursing staff is neglecting its duties or not providing the appropriate level of care.

3. Overdose or Improper Medication: Many elderly nursing home residents require multiple medications. Now, multiply this with ten, twenty, or a hundred residents, and it’s easy to see how inexperienced or busy caregivers could cause an overdose or give the wrong medication to the wrong patient.

Contact an experienced nursing home injury attorney

At Polito & Harrington, we offer personalized, and attentive service while handling your nursing home injury case. Your case will be handled directly by CT & RI lawyers Humbert Polito or James Harrington. You will always be able to talk with your lawyer when you need to. We will work hard to hold people and companies responsible for injuries caused by their carelessness.