Pennsylvania Nursing Homes Falls

Every year more than 50% of accidental deaths among the elderly can be attributed to Falls. Falls also cause severe injuries that can cause an elderly persons health to deteriorate. Following a fall, an elderly person may be afraid to walk. This can cause their muscles to weaken, which then makes them more likely to fall again. Injuries sustained in a fall can severely diminish an elderly persons quality of life. If you believe that the Pennsylvania Nursing Home where you or a loved one lives is not taking safety precautions to prevent falls contact an Elder Abuse Attorney today.

The Nursing Home should have an individualized care plan to determine how to ensure that a resident can walk safely. This should include making sure that staff meet the residents toileting, thirst, and exercises needs so that the elderly person does not find it necessary to walk alone.

Pennsylvania Nursing Homes are required to take due care to prevent residents from sustaining injuries in a fall. This includes supervising residents that have medical conditions that impair their balance and providing safe walkers and wheelchairs. All rooms and hallways should have proper lighting and be free of clutter. The medical status of each resident should be evaluated every three months to ensure that their fall risk has not changed. Further safety precautions which should be followed include:

• Residents taking medication with adverse symptoms should be closely monitored. Many medications that are prescribed have possible side effects such as dizziness hat make a person more likely to fall. It is important that all medication is administered correctly.
• Residents should receive regular health exams to assess their level of mobility. A residents mobility needs should be reassessed every time they are placed on a new medication or the dose is adjusted.
• Staff need to regularly observe patients and be informed of signs of weak or impaired muscle movement. If a patients range of mobility is noticeably changed, the resident should receive a medical evaluation.
• Nurse Call buttons should be available and should be answered promptly. Every resident’s room should be equipped with a nurse call button. It is important that calls are answered promptly so that patients with limited mobility are not injured walking without assistance.
  
  

If you or someone you know sustained injuries from Falling, Call Now For a Free Consultation with a Pennsylvania Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer.