Are falls common in nursing homes?
Are falls in nursing homes really that common? Unfortunately, yes. Older adults can be unsteady, and they rely on the nursing care at the facility to support them and make sure they have what they need to get around the facility safely. Every year, around 100 to 200 falls take place in an average nursing home with 100 beds. Many of the falls that take place aren’t reported since there are no injuries, but that doesn’t mean they don’t happen.
With more than 1.3 million people living in nursing homes and up to 3 million people expected to be living in nursing homes by 2030, you can see why this is a shocking statistic. Around 1,800 people living in nursing homes die every year because of fall-related injuries, and with a growing elderly population, that number could continue to grow exponentially.
Do falls cause serious injuries or deaths?
Yes. Around 1,800 people die from falls, but another 10 to 20 percent of the falls that take place result in serious injuries. Another 2 to 6 percent leave individuals with fractures.
Some of these falls result in injuries like disabilities, a reduced quality of life and functional declines. They can lead to depression and social isolation due to injury, as well.
What can I do if my loved one is hurt due to a fall?
It’s important to reach out to your attorney; you may be in a position to make a claim for nursing home negligence. For instance, if your loved one pressed a call button and no one ever came, you could claim negligence resulted in your loved one having to get up on his or her own and falling.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Falls in Nursing Homes,” accessed May 06, 2016