Common Nursing Home Injuries
Nursing home residents ordinarily have an array of medical conditions and mobility issues. They require daily assistance with routine tasks and round-the-clock support. Unfortunately, members of this medically fragile population can experience injuries in the nursing home environment. Here are some common nursing home injuries:
Slip and Fall Accidents
A common injury seen in nursing homes are fractures and wounds which are the result of a resident losing their balance and falling. These injuries usually occur when the person is transitioning from their bed to standing when exiting a wheelchair, or during bathing. A good nursing home should have plans and staffing in place to prevent these types of accidents. However, due to some resident’s physical instability, occasional falls can happen.
Medication Errors
There are many factors which may contribute to a medication error. For example, there could be poor communication between the dispensing staff and the prescribing physician or confusion about administering the mediation. Another issue could be understaffing of a facility which can lead to the person giving the medicine having too many responsibilities. The facility may also be staffed with individuals who are prone to neglect the clients. It is important to investigate a potential nursing home’s record for these kinds of errors and to discern what steps have been taken to rectify the problems.
Skin Breakdown or Bedsores
Decubitus Ulcers, also known as bedsores and skin breakdown, can be a common occurrence in situations where a resident is bedbound and limited in their ability to reposition their bodies independently. However, these types of wounds can be preventable with proper care. Nursing home staff members are responsible for repositioning residents at regular intervals during the day to keep these injuries from developing.
Contact an Experienced Attorney
While some injuries in a nursing care environment are inevitable, however with reasonable measures and appropriate staffing in place, many occurrences are preventable. If you believe that your loved one has been injured or neglected in a nursing home, you need an experienced personal injury attorney to evaluate your case. The experienced attorneys at the Draper Law Firm are here to help. Please contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
