How Nursing Home Neglect Can Lead to Bedsores and Fall Injuries

 Posted on July 21, 2021 in Nursing Home Negligence

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities provide essential services for many people who are elderly or disabled. Those who are unable to care for themselves can benefit by living in a facility where staff members can make sure they are receiving the proper medical treatment and nutrition while also socializing with others and participating in activities they enjoy. Unfortunately, some nursing homes do not provide the proper care for their residents. This may occur because a facility is understaffed or because staff members do not have the proper training to address patients’ needs. In these cases, residents may suffer serious harm due to nursing home neglect, including injuries such as bedsores or falls.

Neglect Leading to Injuries for Nursing Home Residents

A nursing home’s staff should provide the necessary assistance to address a resident’s daily needs. If a facility does not have enough staff members to fully provide for everyone’s needs, or if staff fail to regularly check on patients and address any issues they are experiencing, a person can suffer serious harm. Bedsores and falls can affect patients in these cases, and they can not only cause a great deal of pain and discomfort, but they can have a negative impact on a person’s overall health.

Bedsores can occur when a person remains in one position for a long period of time. In these cases, the pressure placed on different parts of the body can restrict blood flow, leading to painful sores. Nursing home residents who cannot move about freely may be confined to a bed or wheelchair, and if staff members do not ensure that they adjust their position regularly, they may experience bedsores in areas such as the back of the legs, buttocks, shoulder blades, or heels. When left untreated, bedsores may cause damage to the skin and the underlying tissue, and they can also lead to dangerous infections.

Fall injuries are another issue that can occur when nursing home residents are not provided with the proper supervision and assistance. Patients with mobility issues may struggle to get out of bed, transition between sitting and standing, or walk without assistance. Neglect by staff members may lead a person to attempt these actions on their own, and this may cause a person to fall down and suffer serious injuries. Falls may lead to issues such as broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, or spine injuries, all of which can seriously affect a resident’s health and well-being.

Contact Our Will County Nursing Home Negligence Attorney

If your loved one has been injured due to the negligence of a nursing home or its staff, you will want to determine how you can pursue compensation from those responsible for the harm they have suffered. Flaherty Law, LLC can investigate your case and gather evidence of nursing home neglect, and we will work to ensure that your family achieves justice. Contact our Plainfield nursing home injury lawyer at 815-577-7500 to arrange a complimentary consultation today.

Sources:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/bedsores

https://www.ahrq.gov/patient-safety/settings/long-term-care/resource/injuries/fallspx/man1.html