Nursing home falls in Maryland are often preventable, so you might be able to file a nursing home neglect case if your loved one gets injured. It depends on the circumstances surrounding the incident and what precautions the nursing home took to prevent falls.
Fall risks
Nursing homes should categorize residents as fall risks if they have conditions that put them at a higher likelihood of falling. Facilities must also implement prevention methods for these residents to help prevent serious injuries from falls. Examples of what a nursing home should do include giving high-risk residents low beds, placing soft mats near their beds, supervising them more and using staff-assisted transfers.
Wet floors
Wet floors are a common cause behind fall injuries regardless of a person’s age. Nursing homes must promptly address spills on floors to protect not just their residents but anyone walking through the area.
Equipment in the way
Trips over medical equipment and objects are another common cause behind fall injuries in nursing homes. Staff members should keep medical equipment and other objects out of the walking path.
Staff-assisted transfers
Two-person assisted transfers are the safest way to help a resident out of bed. If a resident is at a higher risk of falls, they should receive two-person assisted transfers.
Staff-to-resident ratio
Some nursing homes make the mistake of not hiring more staff when they receive more residents. Nursing home falls and other injuries become more likely when there isn’t enough staff to properly take care of all of the residents. You might be able to hold a nursing home responsible for neglect if this is the case.
You should regularly check the conditions of your loved one’s nursing home to ensure that the home is operating in the way it should be. This will help keep your loved one safe and alert you to any potential neglect going on.
