Slip And Fall Accidents In Nursing Homes – An Overlooked Problem

If you are like many people across the United States who has had to convince an older loved one to move into an assisted living center after a fall, you understand how difficult this conversation or this prolonged process can be for anyone. Persuading someone to give up his or her daily freedom that many of us take for granted is a situation that is filled with guilt and negative emotions. However, you were likely motivated to make sure that this happened because of that fall, as the next fall could have been much worse. After your loved one finally agreed to make this move, your guilt likely dissipated a bit and gave way to at least some form of relief. That’s because you felt reassured that you had chosen a facility wisely, that your loved one was at least going to be comfortable there and that he or she would be watched closely so that another fall would most likely not happen. After all, everyone understands that when an older person suffers a fall, broken hips and serious injuries may be common, but fatal injuries are also a distinct possibility. Unfortunately, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC as it’s commonly known, has some data on hand that would make anyone shudder with concern. It relates to the number of people who lose their lives every year across the United States in slip and fall accidents that occur in nursing homes. According to the CDC, more than 1,800 people are killed every year in these types of accidents. That equates to nearly five people every day. In addition, one in three people in the United States over the age of 65 falls every year whether they are in nursing homes at the time or not. If you are learning of this data for the first time, you’re probably concerned about the safety of your loved one. Obviously, there are certain slip and fall accidents that simply cannot be avoided for whatever reason, but there are many that can be prevented with the proper level of care. If you’re concerned about the safety of your loved one while he or she is living in an assisted living facility, you should not hesitate to speak up and share your concerns with the facility’s management team. Ask about preventative steps that are taken with regards to falls and ask about the level of supervision that is provided on a regular basis. If your loved one has been injured in a slip and fall accident in such a facility, you should make sure that you do what you can to explore the situation fully. This should include investigating the possibility of pursuing a legal claim if the staff at the facility was negligent in allowing the conditions for this fall to arise in the first place. If this has happened to you, contact the Las Vegas accident lawyers at High Stakes Injury Law today to schedule a free initial consultation.