Nursing Home Fall Accident Involving 93-Year-Old Resident is Under Investigation
The Department of Social and Health Services is investigating a slip and fall accident involving a 93-year-old nursing home resident. The elderly woman, who was injured while getting out of bed, was transported to a hospital and later died after she was sent to hospice care.
According to the state agency, after the slip and fall accident the nursing home patient was treated for a skin tear on her arm and a cut on her head. The DSHS, however, wants to determine whether the resident was properly supervised at the nursing home or if she was a victim of nursing home negligence.
The agency reportedly received four reports on its hotline regarding the care this particular patient received at the Life Care Center of Bothell.
Slip and Fall Accidents
While elderly seniors are at higher risk of becoming involved in slip and fall accidents, it is the responsibility of the nursing home where an elderly patient is residing to properly supervise all residents—especially those that are known fall risks—and make sure that they are provided with the proper safety measures to prevent slip and fall accidents from happening.
The CDC says that about 1,800 nursing home residents die because of fall-related accidents each year. Many residents that survive fall accidents find themselves impaired, in pain, or living a reduced quality of life because of their slip and fall accident.
Common causes of nursing home falls:
• Poor lighting
• Wet floors
• Beds that are not the proper height
• Improperly fitted or defective wheelchairs
• Debris or objects on the ground
• Lack of railings in hallways
• Inadequate supervision
• Dizziness caused by medication
• Walking problems
• Improper or inadequate walking aids
If you believe that your loved one was injured during a fall accident in an Illinois nursing home because workers were negligent or careless or abusive, you may have grounds for a Chicago nursing home neglect lawsuit.
Nursing home fall sparks inquiry, HeraldNet, July 14, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Falls in the Elderly, AAFP
Contact Chicago nursing home neglect and abuse lawyer Steve Malman today.
