Common causes of nursing home falls

Nursing home falls kill about 1,800 elderly residents every year and hurt tens of thousands more.  With so many elders being hurt and killed by something as simple as a fall, you may be wondering what causes elders to fall down and hurt themselves.

Several of the most common causes of nursing home falls include:

• Environmental hazards in nursing homes account for 16 to 27 percent of falls.  Hazards in a facility can include slippery floors, inadequate lighting, higher than necessary beds or chairs, poorly maintained wheelchairs, area rugs not secured to the floor, etc.
• Physical issues account for about 24 percent of nursing home falls.  As residents get older, their muscles weaken or they may develop walking or gait problems that make them more prone to falling down.
• Side effects of prescription or over-the-counter drugs can increase the likelihood of a fall.  Drugs like sedatives and anti-anxiety medications which affect the central nervous system can be especially dangerous for elderly residents.
• Finally, an assortment of other issues can contribute to the likelihood of a fall.  These include poor foot care, shoes that don’t fit or that don’t have a non-slip sole, walking aids that aren’t fitted or used correctly, and any other issue a resident might have while trying to move from one place to another.

Please visit out nursing home abuse and neglect law library to read more in the following articles:

• “Falls in Virginia Nursing Homes”
• “Falls in Nursing Homes CAN and SHOULD be Prevented”
• “Speaking up when you fear nursing home abuse or neglect”