1-800-MALPRACTICE Website
Nursing Home Neglect/Abuse
Falls (link to Falls in Cases section?)
Every second of every day in the United States, an older adult falls, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This makes falls the number one cause of injuries and deaths from injury among older Americans. With close to 2 million people over 65 living in nursing homes, falls, and the serious consequences that often result, have become a serious problem in these facilities.
Falls can result in a variety of critical outcomes that include broken bones, hospitalization, infections, fear of subsequent falls and loss of independence. Sadly, the majority of falls that occur in nursing homes and assisted living facilities
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This protocol recommends a fall-risk assessment and implementation of a fall prevention plan for every resident, as well as an incident report for every fall. The assessment includes checking for problems that increase the likelihood of falling.
Here are some additional steps nursing homes can take to maintain a safer environment and prevent unnecessary falls:
- Assessing patients after a fall to identify and address risk factors and treat any underlying medical conditions
- Educating staff about fall risk factors and prevention strategies
- Reviewing prescribed medicines to assess potential risks and benefits
- Adapting the nursing home environment to make it easier for