It is very common for elderly individuals to suffer from limited mobility related to illness, injuries, or simply aging. Often, this limited mobility can prevent nursing home residents from being able to perform essential functions, such as using the bathroom or showering. In these scenarios, physical assistance is required to help seniors perform necessary activities. Usually, all nursing home staff are trained on the proper way to move residents safely and securely to reduce the risk of an injury. However, it is not uncommon for transfer or lifting injuries to occur when an elderly resident is being moved.
If your loved one has mobility restrictions and is living in a nursing home facility, someone at the nursing home will have to make sure they are moved safely on a daily basis. When moving residents, staff are required to follow proper protocols and procedures. If an accident occurs that causes an injury to your family member, you may be able to hold the nursing home legally accountable. Working with a skilled nursing home lawyer is the best way to see if you have ground to take legal action.
What to Know About Bed Transfer and Lifting Injuries
Many nursing home residents have mobility restrictions. These restrictions have varying levels of severity ranging from needing assistance eating or getting out of bed to not being able to move at all. Since movement is essential for daily functions, nursing home staff must move residents in a variety of scenarios all day long, making the risk of injury a constant possibility. Some of the most common situations in which lifting injuries occur in nursing homes include:
- Assisting a resident with getting in and out of bed
- Helping a resident get in the shower or bathtub
- Helping residents go to physical therapy or doctors’ appointments
- Moving a resident from their bed to a wheelchair
- Helping residents move between different social settings
Moving residents in these scenarios require well-trained nursing home staff along with proper equipment. It is most common for accidents to occur when nursing homes fail to provide proper training or are short-staffed. Another common factor that causes injuries is the failure of staff to use lifting equipment or inspect lifting equipment before use. Lastly, when nursing home staff fail to follow a resident’s personalized care plan, it enhances the risk of a lifting injury. For example, different residents may require different lifting mechanisms.
Since elderly individuals are generally fragile, even the most seemingly minor lifting injuries can develop into a long-term issue. For example, even a little scratch caused during a transfer can turn into a chronic bedsore.
Common Scenarios That Lead to Lifting Injuries
There are a couple of common scenarios in nursing homes that enhance the risk for lifting injuries. Here are some of the most common situations in which lifting injuries occur in long-term care facilities:
- Nursing home staff fail to properly examine lifting equipment before use.
- Nursing home staff fail to follow the directions of the lifting equipment’s manual.
- Nursing home staff fail to use and secure the proper sling for a specific resident.
Most commonly, lifting injuries occur due to some failure related to inspecting and using proper lifting equipment.
Contact an Expert Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in New York City
If your loved one has recently been involved in a bed transfer injury in their nursing home facility as a result of negligence, it’s essential to know your rights. Unfortunately, many nursing homes are plagued by significant understaffing and fail to fully train employees on proper lifting protocols. At Dalli & Marino, we are committed to fighting the injustices in the nursing home system.
Our seasoned New York trial attorneys have been aggressively advocating for victims of nursing home abuse since 1996. Our team of skilled attorneys approaches each case on an individual basis and is dedicated to helping you recover the money you deserve to compensate for your experience. Give us a call at (888) 465-8790 or complete our contact form today.
