Nursing homes in West Palm Beach have a duty to provide for the health, care, and treatment of our loved ones. This means that a nursing home has a duty to ensure that their facilities are safe, and that the health and well-being of elderly residents is their number 1 priority.
However, while nursing homes have a duty to protect their residents, statistics show a startling trend, and according to the Nursing Home Abuse Center a nursing home with one hundred beds will typically report between 100 and 200 falls every year. Nursing homes are regulated by state and federal regulations, therefore whenever a loved one has suffered an injury because of a fall, it is important to explore whether the nursing home should be held liable for any injury.
While many nursing homes provide excellent care, it is always important to examine the cause of a nursing home fall and to determine if a fall was preventable. A lawyer can help investigate the cause of a West Palm Beach nursing home fall injury and help determine if the nursing home should bear any liability for a fall. Consult a qualified nursing home abuse attorney that can advocate for you, or your loved one.
Common Causes of Falls
According to the study “Falls in the nursing home: are they preventable?” nursing homes can take proactive steps to avoid falls by conducting an assessment of both the physical environment as well as the individuals in nursing homes.
Nursing homes should make every effort to ensure that their premises are safe for residents. This includes ensuring that environmental hazards such as slippery floors, poor lighting, and debris is immediately identified and remedied. Nursing homes should also ensure that beds are set at a proper and appropriate height and that bed rails are properly secured.
In addition, nursing homes in West Palm Beach should ensure the safety of their residents through conducting risk assessments to identify nursing home residents who are at risk for falls.
Impact of a Nursing Home Fall
Nursing home falls are a serious concern for the elderly and should be a major concern for families who have loved ones in nursing homes in West Palm Beach. Nursing home falls often result in severe injuries including broken bones and internal bleeding, which can cause disabilities.
In addition, nursing home falls often have an impact beyond the injury itself, and falls are often associated with a nursing home resident experiencing a functional decline, to have less independence, and to experience an overall decline in the quality of their life.
A fall can also cause other collateral consequences including depression, social anxiety, and loss of function. An experienced lawyer understands that a West Palm Beach nursing home fall injury is more than just a physical injury, but understands the impact a fall has on an individual’s overall quality of life.
Helping Individuals and Families After a Nursing Home Fall
If your loved one has suffered a fall injury in a West Palm Beach nursing home, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns.
A nursing home lawyer is prepared to answer all of your questions and will examine medical records, obtain facility policies, and examine nursing home facility procedures to determine if a fall was preventable and if the nursing home should be held responsible for a fall injury.
Speak to a member of our team today.