Bone fractures from slip and falls on ice, on stairs, off a ladder or at work is not all that uncommon. Emergency rooms all around the country are filled with people who have a variety of broken bones, some serious, some not so much. However, a broken bone in the elderly is a very serious matter. It used to be common to believe that an elderly person over the age of 65 who suffers a hip fracture is destined for death. That is not always the case now because of the advances in medicine and because of the health of the individual even at an advanced age. However, broken bones in the elderly are serious matters and many of them take place in nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
Although some bone fractures in nursing homes suffered by a resident cannot be prevented, many of these incidences are predictable and preventable. Too often nursing homes cut corners putting profits over people. This results in staffing deficiencies, inexperienced staff or just plain negligence on the part of staff and personnel that may lead to bone fractures, serious injuries or even death that occurs because of falls.
According to a report issued by the Center for Disease Control, more than 1,800 elderly U.S. citizens die in nursing homes because of falls or fall-related injuries. The number of elderly housed in nursing homes assisted living facilities and long-term facilities are on the rise. Americans are simply growing older and living longer.
There are many types of bone fractures, some of which are self-healing, some require splinting and many require surgery.
A comminuted fracture is one where the bone is splintered. In older individuals, bones become brittle with age. These kinds of fractures typically to the leg, arm, hip or knee are reparable only by an open reduction surgery. Surgery is always dangerous for the elderly.
Another type of bone fracture is a compression fracture which occurs when an individual falls and the bone fractures on contact. This may be caused again by the frailty of the bones of the elderly or by a bone disease such as osteoporosis. Those at risk for compression fractures may suffer this occurrence without a traumatic event such as a direct fall.
Another type of fracture is one where the individual develops small bone cracks or stress fractures. These generally occur in the lower leg and feet. At nursing homes, complaints of pain in the lower extremities must always be investigated by nursing home personnel. A nursing home resident may report swelling in a hand or leg or other part of the body which may indicate a stress fracture. These kinds of injuries must be investigated or the nursing home resident will suffer far worse medical consequences.
Nursing homes are liable in many cases under the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act for abuse to the elderly, including bone fractures because of falls, because of lack of supervision or inexperienced staff. These fall injuries are preventable. The nursing home could be found liable for injury or death to a nursing home resident if it is shown that the cause of the fall resulting in these injuries were caused by the negligent staffing, negligent personnel or other negligent factors that contributed to the injury.
If you or a loved one has been suffering or has died as a result of nursing home abuse or related to a bone fracture, contact Kreisman Law Offices.