Falling Leading Concern for Elderly
Have you ever helped an elderly person walk across the room? Did you notice how long it took for them to make that short walk? Did you notice how carefully they walked and how much they relied on you for help? Elderly people are very concerned about falling because they know that a fall can change their life forever….or end it.
For residents of nursing homes that concern in heightened and they knew that just one fall can be deadly. Falls in nursing homes regularly result in physical injuries and should be among the chief concern of those responsible for taking care of nursing home residents. One of the main jobs of a nursing home facility is to do everything they can do to prevent falls and provide meaningful supervision of residents so that they are less likely to fall. Far too often though, nursing homes do not have enough staff members to monitor, supervise or provide adequate care of residents. As a result, falls become more likely and are among the most common causes of injuries in nursing homes. Sadly, too many nursing homes look out for their own financial interests rather than doing what is best for their residents.
The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health might have a solution. Their new program, entitled, Healthy Steps for Older Adults organized through the Pennsylvania Department of Aging focuses on making sure that these older adults go through a physician screening and are also made aware of various factors that increase the potential for a fall. The program also stresses the importance of remaining active especially as one ages. Even small things like cleaning or gardening can, according to this study, help prevent falls in the elderly. In fact, this program has reportedly reduced falls by 17% in the state of Pennyslvania.
While this program mostly looks to elderly who are living independently, it does have some important lessons for all elderly people, even those in nursing homes. The department states that many different factors go into one’s risk of falling. These include tangible things such as rugs that might cause tripping to intangibles such as changes in brain chemistry. The Public Health school says that educating people about the various reasons falls might become more prevalent can help elderly residents be on the look out for these triggers and nursing homes, who are interested in placing people above profits, can better prepare for preventing falls.
Unfortunately, fatal or near fatal falls are a reality in nursing homes, even right here in Maryland. If your loved one has fallen in a nursing home and suffered an injury as a result, it could be a result of negligence. If you would like to talk to one of our Maryland nursing home neglect attorneys, feel free to call us at 410-825-ABUSE (2287) or visit our website at www.NursingHomeJustice.com for more information.