Nursing home falls can lead to death

Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries for the elderly in the U.S. For the elderly, especially those with weakened bone density and poor mobility, any kind of fall can turn deadly. As people age, bones and tissue take much longer to heal which means fractures and broken bones are even more painful and debilitating. In some cases, a full recovery is an impossibility which could result in more pain and suffering as well as posing an additional threat to a person’s safety and independence.

Most families fear that their elderly loved ones will experience such falls when home alone or unsupervised which is why many people turn to nursing homes to provide that extra level of protection. Logically, nursing homes should be the safest place, but, according to statistics, this isn’t the case. Between 50% and 75% of nursing home residents fall each year, compared to approximately 25% to 40% sustained by elderly people who do not live in nursing homes. Two to three percent of these falls end with fractures while 10%-20% result in serious injuries.

These statistics are unacceptable which is why attorney Gregory Yates is dedicated to holding nursing home facilities accountable for any and all negligence when it comes to nursing home falls.

The people you’re supposed to trust

When you place your loved one or elderly parents in a nursing home, that facility is fully responsible for the health and well-being of its residents. As a result, protocols must be in place to prevent injury and, if an injury does occur, to remediate the situation in the resident’s best interest. These procedures should plan for falling scenarios by taking preventative measures such as providing walkers or wheelchairs as well as assessing and appropriately treating residents who have already fallen.

If your family member(s) have experienced repeated falling, that’s usually a red flag that the nursing facility has failed to implement the correct protocols. Don’t ignore the signs, but follow up with the facility on their procedures. In the worst-case scenario — if your loved one dies as a result of a fall — you should consult with Gregory Yates. Experienced in wrongful death cases against nursing homes, he will help you determine the right course of action.

What’s your story?

If you have lost a loved one as a result of a nursing home fall, you should contact Gregory Yates immediately. Serving as a wrongful death attorney to Los Angeles and the surrounding counties, Gregory A.Yates can help you find closure by seeking justice for your loved one as well as compensation.

In the case of wrongful death, inaction will only let the nursing home get away with negligence. Take the first step to holding the nursing facility responsible for inadequate safety and supervision by contacting attorney Gregory A. Yates today.