Slip and Fall Accidents in Nursing Homes

Residents in nursing homes are at a significantly increased risk of falling.  Walking and maintaining balance is often a struggle which leads residents to be more susceptible to slip and fall injuries.  The nursing homes they live in have a responsibility to protect them by providing safe maintenance for the premises and hallways.  Once a resident has shown him or herself to be at risk for slip and fall accidents, a supervision plan should immediately be put into place to prevent an injury from happening again. Plans can include additional supervision or adding rails to beds and walls.  Providing medical equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, or canes can also help prevent falls.

Negligence and understaffed facilities are the major cause of falls within nursing homes in California.  Understaffed nursing homes leads to serious problems as residents are left to wander unattended or forced to try and get out of bed and get to the bathroom on their own because no one has answered their call for help.  
Some common negligence cases causing falls in nursing homes include: 

• falls due to a resident's bed rails not being locked in place
• falls caused because a staff member did not follow procedure and get help with transferring a resident from gurney to bed or from wheelchair to bed.  One fall can often lead to another, especially in nursing homes with negligent supervision
• dangerous conditions, such as wet floors, and poor lighting 
• improperly fitted or maintained wheelchairs

Elderly falls are very serious and result in disability, functional decline and reduced quality of life. Nursing home residents suffering a fall or repetitive falls could suffer brain injuries, fractured bones, spinal cord injuries, or even death.  If your loved one has been injured in a nursing home fall caused by negligent supervision or unsafe facilities please contact Attorney Joel Bryant today at (619) 239-7900 for a free legal consultation.