Injuries from falls when transferring residents in a nursing home facility are not uncommon. If precautions are not taken when transferring elderly individuals from beds, chairs, wheelchairs, and showers to other locations, falls can occur resulting in serious injury and death. If your loved one is harmed due to negligence in a nursing home facility, it is important to hold your nursing home accountable to protect your loved one and others who may be subject to future negligence or abuse if problems are left unchecked.
Preventing Fall Injuries in a Nursing Home Setting
Elderly residents in nursing home facilities often require assistance moving from one location to another, and sometimes falls occur when precautions are not taken when transferring a resident from a chair, wheel chair, bed, toilet or shower to other locations. It is the responsibility of a nursing home to develop and implement policies that allow for the safe transfer of residents, which includes adequately trained staff to avoid common fall injuries such as hip, pelvis and wrist fractures, internal organ damage, and traumatic brain injuries.
Fall Prevention When Transferring Patients in a Nursing Home
- Individualized Approach – Taking proper precautions can ensure that transfer injuries are avoided and residents are unharmed. It is important to assess each resident and provide an individualized care plan that includes transferring instructions. No two residents are alike in terms of mobility and condition and therefore specific transfer protocols should be followed to avoid injuries.
- Adequate Staff and Training – Staff should be property trained on the correct way to transfer patients from beds, chairs, wheelchairs, showers and restroom facilities to other locations, which may require certain equipment or more than one staff member to transfer a patient safely. Under staffing and inadequate training in nursing home facilities is a pervasive problem posing a significant risk to residents particularly when it comes to transfer falls.
Contact a Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney for Help
According to the Centers for Disease Control CDC, anywhere from 50 to 75% of nursing home residents fall each year, many resulting in serious harm including broken bones and fractures, mental and physical health complications, loss of physical function, decreased quality of life, and death. Falls in nursing homes are largely preventable if nursing homes and their staff take a responsible approach, but, unfortunately, that is not always the case. If your loved one suffered an injury as a result of negligence or carelessness in a nursing home facility, it is important to seek help. Iowa nursing home abuse and neglect attorney Marc Humphrey is dedicated to helping families get justice and financial compensation when family members are injured due neglect or abuse in nursing home facilities. Contact our office through our website or call today at 515-331-3510.
