Sometimes, suffering hides in silence. Referred to as the “silent disease,” osteoporosis quietly develops as it weakens a person’s bones. The bones’ brittleness goes unnoticed until a spine, hip or wrist fracture happens. Your elderly loved one may be particularly vulnerable to osteoporosis because of their frail condition that comes with age. Other risk factors may include your family’s medical history and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Studies have shown that senior adults with osteoporosis may also experience worsened fall accidents. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls among senior adults led to three million emergency cases, with 36,000 fatalities in 2020.
If one of the 230 Maryland nursing homes where your loved one’s currently residing fails to look out for signs of osteoporosis, your loved one may be more susceptible to falls than you anticipate.
How can nursing homes prevent osteoporosis-related falls?
For the most severe cases of osteoporosis, a sneeze or cough may be enough to cause bone fractures. To manage osteoporosis and prevent falls, the nursing home staff can do any of the following measures:
- Manage dietary intake, rich with calcium and vitamin D
- Maintain functional mobility, while accounting for specific limitations caused by the disease
- Adjust bed position at regular intervals, while using assistive equipment – wheelchair, cane, walker, crutch – if necessary
- Administer medication appropriately, taking note of time and quantity
- Create a safe and stimulating environment, encouraging mental wellness
It might help to also consider having a team of medical professionals on board to have comprehensive coordination for your loved one’s care plan. This way, they can devise balanced ways unique to your loved one’s condition as a nursing home resident.
However, suppose your loved one still becomes a fall victim, sustaining injuries or harm due to a nursing home staff’s negligence. In that case, you may file a lawsuit to seek compensation for the physical and financial trauma your family had to endure.
Standing up for your loved one
You are standing up against substandard care, as you should. A legal counsel can help you adequately establish your loved one’s claim and recover what your family rightfully deserves.
