When a loved one falls in a nursing home, it raises serious concerns about their safety and well-being. When it results in severe injuries, the family may rightfully question whether the staff is to blame for the fall.
Understanding the factors that contribute to these incidents helps determine responsibility and prevent future harm.
Nursing home staff obligations
Nursing homes have a duty to provide a safe environment for their residents. This includes properly monitoring residents, maintaining the facility and addressing individual health needs. Falls can occur due to various factors, such as poor supervision, inadequate staffing or hazardous conditions like slippery floors or cluttered hallways. If these factors contributed to the fall, the staff might be to blame for failing in their responsibilities.
Defining staff negligence
Negligence occurs when staff fails to meet the standard of care expected in a nursing facility. For instance, if staff members do not respond quickly to a resident’s call for assistance or if they fail to provide necessary mobility aids, they may be negligent. Additionally, failure to regularly assess a resident’s fall risk or implement necessary precautions can lead to preventable falls.
Understanding when falls are not preventable
Not every fall is the result of staff negligence. Some residents have medical conditions that make them prone to falling, even with proper care. Individuals with dementia or other cognitive impairments may have difficulty following safety instructions, increasing their fall risk. In these cases, it may be challenging to hold the staff accountable if they provided appropriate care.
Proving that the staff is to blame
Determining whether the staff is to blame for a nursing home fall requires a thorough examination of the circumstances. When building your case, you must carefully assess the facility’s adherence to safety regulations, your loved one’s health condition and the actions of the staff before and after the fall. If the facility failed in its duty to provide a safe environment, it could be responsible for the fall.
Families always have the right to advocate for their loved one’s safety. Ensuring that caregivers meet safety standards and regularly assess residents’ needs can help prevent nursing home injuries and protect those in their care.