Idaho Law Blog
Making the decision to place a loved one in a nursing home can be difficult, even emotionally traumatic, for both family members and for the person who is actually entering this new residence. The last thing anyone wants to learn is that their loved one has fallen.
What is the risk for a fall?
01. In the U.S., around 1,800 people die in nursing homes from falls each year according to the Centers For Disease Control. In Idaho, just like other parts of the country, older people are more susceptible to general and physical harm from falls. In addition, the severity of the harm is greater to these more fragile family members. Your relative may fall due to the fact that mobility is decreased as a person ages. Diminished gait and mobility problems account for 24 percent of nursing home falls according to the CDC. New medications can also affect one’s ability to move from one place to another.
Your loved one’s residence should be carefully researched.
02. Careful research of a facility is necessary. With a little thought and inspection, people can help to protect their loved ones from dangerous facilities. You should be on the lookout for the following environmental conditions:
- Wet floors
- Bad lighting
- Beds or chairs that are too high or too low
- Lack of handrails an insufficient number of handrails
- Toilet seats that are not at the correct height
Another item that can prove dangerous is a walking device. This includes crutches and walkers. If the floors are wet or if there are uneven surfaces, an elderly relative may be severely hurt. You can help to prevent a fall by drawing the owner’s attention to poor conditions. Thereafter, if the property owner or facility management fails to acknowledge or improve the situation, you may have a case of negligence if an injury occurs. Furthermore, their negligence can be reported to the authorities.
Be careful. Nursing home falls can lead to significant reduction in the quality of life of your loved one and a painful recovery. A quality assessment, with training and facility oversight, can help prevent a debilitating fall.