Falls In Skilled Nursing Facilities

Our lawyers are frequently asked to review cases involving patient falls in skilled nursing home facilities. Due to the physical and mental conditions of many infirm and elderly patients, it is impossible to prevent all falls. However, in many instances falls can be prevented or greatly reduced by the implementation of proper procedures.
Patients who are long term residents in skilled nursing homes are by definition in a compromised state of health, usually from multiple chronic medical problems. These patients are often weak, are subject to lightheaded spells, become confused and have significant deficiencies of mobility and balance. Falling, sometimes frequent falling is thus a common occurrence for these patients.
The consequence of these falls can range from simple bruising to severe complications such as broken bones and brain injuries. Even relatively simple additional stresses imposed on an already debilitated patient can have severe long term effects on a patient’s overall medical condition. For example, statistics show that patients who sustain a fractured hip have much higher 6 month death rates even after the fracture has healed and baseline mobility has been re-established.