Nursing Home Falls Lawsuit

Nursing homes must provide reasonable care to their residents, but sometimes, they fall short. Negligent actions include the following:

• Improper staff training: Properly trained staff are essential in ensuring the safety of nursing home residents. Without appropriate training, staff may be ill-equipped to assist residents, handle emergencies, or perform daily care routines safely, increasing the risk of accidents and falls.
• Insufficient staffing: Understaffing in nursing homes can lead to substandard care and a lack of attention to residents’ mobility needs. Insufficient staffing levels can result in limited assistance with walking, getting in and out of bed, etc., leading to a higher risk of falls. 
• Ignoring the needs or conditions of residents: Each resident in a nursing home has unique needs based on their health condition and physical abilities. Ignoring these can result in inappropriate care, such as giving them footwear that doesn’t support their condition or placing them in areas not suited to their mobility level, leading to falls.
• Lack of supervision: Continuous and vigilant supervision is vital, especially for residents with mobility issues or cognitive impairments. When staff members aren’t attentive or are spread too thin, residents may try to move independently or engage in activities that pose fall risks, resulting in potential harm.
• Monitoring system failure: Many nursing homes use monitoring systems to alert staff when residents leave their beds or enter areas where they might be at risk. A malfunction or failure in these systems can leave residents unattended and vulnerable, increasing the likelihood of unsupervised falls.

While the causes above are common, there are other reasons a nursing home fall may occur, including a failure to maintain safe premises:

• Slippery floors due to spills or cleaning: Spills or wet floors left after cleaning without proper signage can create slick surfaces. Such slippery conditions can be treacherous for residents, especially those with mobility issues, making them highly susceptible to falls and injuries.
• Poor lighting in rooms or corridors: Dimly lit corridors and rooms can obscure obstacles or hazards, making it difficult for residents to navigate safely. Poor lighting conditions can result in missteps, trips, and subsequent falls, especially for those with vision impairments.
• Inadequately maintained or missing handrails: Handrails serve as vital support systems, especially in areas such as staircases, ramps, or long corridors. When these handrails are poorly maintained, unstable, or entirely absent, residents lack the necessary support to move confidently. This deficiency can lead to loss of balance and dangerous falls, particularly for residents who rely heavily on such mobility aids.