One of the reasons you may opt to move your loved one into a nursing home is to ensure their safety. As some people get older and deal with chronic health issues, they become a fall risk. A slip and fall can cause serious health consequences for older people. Thus, some families choose nursing home care as an alternative to their loved ones living alone. However, some nursing homes don’t take the proper precautions to prevent residents from falling, resulting in serious injury. Understanding the three leading causes of slips and falls in New York nursing homes can help you be vigilant about these risks when visiting your loved one and inquiring about the specifics of their care.
Dalli & Marino is a premier New York nursing home abuse lawyer who has worked with families whose loved ones have suffered slips and falls in nursing home environments. We understand the ramifications of such a health crisis and will fight for justice on behalf of you and your loved ones after a slip and fall.
Three Main Causes of Slips and Falls in New York Nursing Homes
While anyone in a nursing home can slip and fall, some conditions make this a more likely occurrence than others. The three leading causes of slips and falls in New York nursing homes include:
- Physical environment: Poor lighting, slippery floors, and a lack of assistive components (such as handrails) commonly contribute to nursing home falls.
- Poorly maintained furniture and equipment: Wheelchairs that are too big or small for the resident, wheelchairs that are not adequately maintained, and beds that are set much too high can all contribute to nursing home slips and falls.
- Medication/chronic health conditions: Medication is a significant component in slips and falls in New York nursing homes. Some medicines can make individuals feel dizzy or less coordinated than usual. Chronic health conditions may also be to blame.
Slips and falls in nursing homes happen outside of these causes. However, no matter what the reason, the truth is that staff can almost always take steps to guard against it by pinpointing residents that represent fall risks and taking steps to mitigate accidents.
How Can a New York Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Help after a Slip and Fall Incident?
A New York nursing home abuse lawyer like Dalli & Marino can help you and your loved ones get justice after a slip and fall incident. After all, the medical expenses of such an accident can be significant, which is to say nothing of the physical and emotional suffering your loved one may have endured in the aftermath of the incident. We will help you get to the bottom of what happened and develop a strategy to hold the nursing home accountable.
There are many ways to anticipate possible slips and falls in nursing homes, so there is rarely an excuse for such an event. From ensuring that all assistive devices are properly maintained and within reach of residents to routine staff checks on all residents as dictated by nursing home policies, many safeguards could and should be in place to prevent a fall from happening in the first place.
Get Help Now after a New York Nursing Home Slip and Fall Accident
After a slip and fall accident, ensure your loved one is medically stable and as comfortable as possible. Then, contact Dalli & Marino immediately so that we can act to hold the nursing home in question accountable for an environment that would allow such an incident to occur. Nursing home staff are experienced enough to know how important it is to put preventative measures to prevent falls, given how serious they can be for older populations. We will be assertive and thorough in doing whatever it takes to get justice for you and your loved ones.
Start by reaching out to us today via phone at (888) 465-8790 to schedule a complimentary case review or contact us online to learn how we can help you. Se Habla Español.
