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Falls in Virginia Nursing Homes

Nursing home falls take the lives of about 1,800 nursing home residents a year, and cause fractures, disability, functional decline and a reduced quality of life for countless other nursing home residents.

The problem of falls in nursing homes is bigger than most people realize. There are over 1.5 million people living in nursing homes across the United States, and many are elderly and frail, which makes them more prone to falling down or falling from a bed, chair, or other surface.

For all people over the age of 65, 20 percent of deaths are from nursing home falls. A typical nursing home with 100 beds will report 100 to 200 falls, however many falls go unreported. Some experts estimate that 75 percent of all nursing home residents have at least one fall each year, with an average of 2.6 falls per resident per year.

Why are there so many falls in nursing homes?

Nursing homes would like you to believe that falls are so common simply because elderly residents are frail, have poor balance and muscle control, and suffer from a variety of physical and mental health conditions. While this all may be true, if falls are happening more often than they should in a nursing home then neglect could be an issue. Unsupervised or improperly managed residents are naturally going to be more prone to falls.

Injuries from nursing home falls

Up to 20 percent of falls in nursing homes result in serious injury to the nursing home resident. Up to another 6 percent of falls will result in fractures. Fractures are more serious for elderly residents than they are for younger people because older bones heal very slowly and the pain and confinement resulting from a fracture can depress an elderly resident, significantly reducing their quality of life.

Some causes of nursing home falls

About a quarter of all nursing home falls can be attributed to a resident’s muscle weakness and walking or gait issues. About another quarter of falls can be blamed on environmental hazards. Hazards can be everything from improperly fitted or maintained wheelchairs and beds to wet flooring or poor lighting.

Residents taking medication are also more prone to falling, since some drugs can affect balance. Drugs like sedatives and anti-anxiety medications that work on the central nervous system are especially problematic when it comes to falls.

Lastly, a resident who has difficulty moving from one place to another is going to be more likely to fall than an able-bodied resident. Other factors like neglected feet or shoes or improperly used walking aids can also contribute to nursing home falls.

If you would like to speak with an experienced Virginia nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer, please contact the Norfolk based law office of Weisberg & Zaleski.

Weisberg & Zaleski, P.C.

112 College Place

Norfolk, VA 23510

Toll Free: (800) 690-0235

Phone: (757) 622-7740

Fax: (757) 533-9223




Michael S. Weisberg, P.C.
112 College Place
Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: (757) 622-7740
Fax: (757) 533-9223
Toll Free: (800) 690-0235
Email: info@weislaw.com
www.weislaw.com