Short-Term Nursing Home Stay Falls

Carl Saiontz

By Carl Saiontz
Posted July 13, 2012

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Individuals who require short-term nursing home care for rehab or other treatment designed to prepare them to return home, may be at an increased risk of suffering serious injuries as a result of a fall. According to new research, the high rate of falls during short nursing home stays could be avoided with better staffing and other preventative actions by the facilities.

Nursing Home Fall Lawyers

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In a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers from the University of Southern California and Brown University looked at 2006 Medicare/Medicaid data on more than 230,000 nursing home residents in 10,000 facilities nationwide. They found that 21% suffered a fall during their first 30 days.

Researchers also found that the more certified nursing assistants (CNAs) a nursing home had, the less falls it appeared to have.

Temporary nursing home residents may be unfamiliar with their surroundings, and staff is often unfamiliar with their habits and abilities, making falls more likely. These problems can be avoided if nursing homes take extra precautions and devote the necessary attention to reduce the number of nursing home falls.

Providing more CNAs to help residents through more activities that are considered a high risk for falls, such as going to the toilet and getting dressed, can significantly reduce the risks.

According to a press release, lead researcher Natalie Leland indicated:

“This study highlights the different health care goals of a population striving to get back to the community, who were mostly admitted for rehabilitation after a hospital stay, relative to long-term patients who reside in the nursing home.

A fall can delay or permanently prevent the patient from returning to the community, and identifying risk of falling is essential for implementing fall prevention strategies and facilitating successful discharge back to the community.”

Federal law requires nursing homes to put plans in place to prevent falls for elderly residents. Such falls can result in bone fractures, serious injuries and death. The situation surrounding a fall can lead to charges of negligence and nursing home neglect.

NURSING HOME NEGLIGENCE LAWYERS LAWSUITS

The nursing home injury attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. investigate potential claims for individuals throughout the United States who have suffered a fall that resulted in a severe or life-threatening injury. If the facility could have taken steps to reduce the risk of injury, financial compensation may be available through a nursing home lawsuit.

All cases are reviewed on a contingency fee basis, which means that there are never any out-of-pocket expenses to hire an attorney. If you, a friend or family member has been injured in a nursing home fall, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

1 Comment • Add Your Comments

  • Barb Przybylowicz says:

    Falling from Chairs
    Sliding down/out from chairs and wheelchairs is a leading cause falls in elders and other susceptible people. Typically, sliding falls are caused by persons with leg weakness and other neurological disorders that interfere with proper seating and/or environmental conditions (sliding off vinyl or plastic coated seats).
    Safety Bunns
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuHo8qH6ro8

    Safety Bunns is the first product available on the market to put a stop to ‘sliding out of chairs’.
    Designed to:
    • Avoid sliding out of chairs/wheelchairs.
    • Provide proper seating position and comfort while promoting safety.
    • Prevent use of physical restraints to control chair sliding.
    • Prevent caregiver/host injury from constantly re-positioning sliding person.

    Ideal for people with:
    • Previous chair/wheelchair falls
    • Impaired sitting balance
    • Persons with cognitive impairment and/or leg problems (weakness, neurological disorders).
    • Stroke, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological impairments.
    • Developmentally disabled adults and children.

    Posted on July 13, 2012 at 10:19 pm

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