Item: Flaxman Law Group
Rating: 5
Author: Clara Barman

Falls and Fractures in the Nursing Home

Published on: March 23, 2018 | By Flaxman Law Group

Nursing home residents often live in care environments because they need extra help with everyday tasks and often need more assistance than in-house help or a family can offer. Mobility issues, Alzheimer’s, and other conditions can make seniors more prone to wandering and falls. Aging and conditions such as osteoporosis can mean a greater susceptibility to fractures and bone breaks. If combined with a living situation which includes nursing home negligence or abuse, Hollywood or South Florida residents can be at great risk.

Why Falls and Fractures Happen

Falls and fractures can occur for any number of reasons in a nursing home. Elderly residents may become disoriented or may have vision or mobility issues which affect balance and movement. In many cases, understaffing can mean residents do not have the support and supervision needed when they attempt to get out of bed or when they walk around.

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Inadequate Security at Nursing Homes

Published on: March 17, 2018 | By Flaxman Law Group

Nursing homes need to be safe environments. Sometimes, residents of these homes have Alzheimer’s, dementia, or mental illnesses which can make them behave erratically. In some cases, they may lash out or act of violence. In addition, nursing homes are open environments to other people may enter the home and this it is incumbent upon nursing homes to maintain a safe environment for residents, staff and visitors.

There are many ways that nursing homes can maintain adequate security. These include:

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Amputations and Elderly Patients

Published on: January 12, 2018 | By Flaxman Law Group

Amputations are devastating for elderly patients of nursing homes. Amputations often result in significant emotional distress, anxiety, trauma and depression. In addition, amputations can lead to significantly reduced mobility and loss of quality of life.

In many cases, amputations on elderly residents are preventable with proper diabetic care, proper safety precautions and proper care. Very often, amputations are a last resort for doctors who are trying to save a patient’s life. For elderly residents of nursing homes, amputations can occur due to neglected bedsores, untreated or unmanaged diabetes, and other instances of negligence.

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Head Injuries in Nursing Home Falls

Published on: January 5, 2018 | By Flaxman Law Group

Nursing home head injuries can happen for a number of reasons. They can occur due to physical injuries caused by abuse or by bedrail injuries or slip and fall accidents. Unfortunately, when an elderly patient hits their head while falling, it can lead to serious and permanent injuries. In some cases, head injuries can be life-threatening, especially if the patient is not taken for a full evaluation immediately.

If it family member in a nursing home has suffered a head injury due to a fall, you deserve answers. If negligence led to the injury, you may have a right to seek compensation to help pay for your family member’s care, support and a move to a new facility.

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Back Injuries in Florida Nursing Homes

Published on: January 3, 2018 | By Flaxman Law Group

Back injuries happen in Hollywood and Florida nursing homes for a number of reasons, including physical abuse, slip and fall accidents, bed rail incidents, and other causes. If a loved one in a nursing home has sustained a back injury, it’s important to ask questions. Unfortunately, these types of injuries can be debilitating and painful. They can result in loss of quality of life and serious complications.

For seniors, back injuries can be especially troubling. It can take longer for an elderly person to recover from a back injury, especially if they have an underlying condition. In addition, a back injury can lead to pneumonia and other serious concerns and complications. Someone who already has reduced mobility is even more susceptible to bed sores and other complications if their health is further compromised with a back injury.

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Broken Legs in Nursing Homes: What to Do When a Family Member is Injured

Published on: December 22, 2017 | By Flaxman Law Group

Seniors living in Hollywood nursing homes sometimes have underlying conditions such osteoporosis, autoimmune disorders, and other complications which can make them more susceptible to certain types of injuries or illnesses. For example, patients with osteoporosis or low bone density may experience fractures more frequently. Unfortunately, some nursing homes will insist that any and all fractures are caused by osteoporosis or by reduced bone density when in fact any signs of bone breaks, such as a broken leg, should be seriously considered and investigated thoroughly.

Broken legs in nursing homes can occur for a number of reasons, including fall accidents, physical abuse, poor supervision and other situations which may result in a legal claim. If a broken leg has occurred, you will want to investigate and ask questions to get to the bottom of the situation. You will also want to ensure that the nursing home took appropriate action to help your elderly loved one get the medical attention they need.

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Fractures are a Common Injury in Hollywood Nursing Homes in Hollywood and South Florida

Published on: December 1, 2017 | By Flaxman Law Group

For children, fractures, commonly known as broken bones, can heal very quickly, sometimes in weeks. Complications are relatively rare. For seniors in nursing homes, fractures and broken bones can be devastating and in some cases can be fatal. For adults who are 65 years of age and older, fractures can take months to recover from and in some cases these breaks never quite heal correctly. In addition, significant fractures, such as hip fractures, are associated with shortened life expectancy. It is not uncommon for a senior to suffer a significant fracture and then to pass away within a year or a few years. Complications are also far more common in seniors, especially for those who have pre-existing medical conditions.

Unfortunately, fractures are also more of a concern for seniors. Medications as well as medical conditions can make them more prone to falling. Mobility issues, vision problems, and other concerns also make them more vulnerable to falls. Conditions such as osteoporosis can mean bones are weaker and therefore more likely to break, even without falls.

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Bed Rail Injuries in Hollywood and South Florida Nursing Homes

Published on: November 29, 2017 | By Flaxman Law Group

Bed rails are often used in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities to help those who are most vulnerable. Those who are bedridden or who have mobility issues may have bed rails on their beds to help them sit up and to provide added support as they move around. Bed rails also keep an elderly person from falling out of bed in the middle of the night and can help prevent falls as well as wandering.

Unfortunately, bed rail injuries in nursing homes in Hollywood and across South Florida are surprisingly common. Many people don’t consider that something so simple can cause significant injury and even fatalities, but it can happen.

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Traumatic Brain Injury in Hollywood and South Florida Nursing Homes

Published on: November 17, 2017 | By Flaxman Law Group

Traumatic brain injuries can occur in Hollywood nursing homes for a number of reasons. They are most common due to falls, such as slip and fall or trip and fall incidents in hallways, when getting in and out of bed, or in the washroom. Staff are expected to take reasonable precautions to prevent traumatic brain injury. These precautions may include installing better lighting, offering adequate supervision and assistance to residents, installing grab bars along hallways, on stairs, and in bathrooms and taking additional precautions as well.

Traumatic brain injury can be especially dangerous for elderly person who may already be fragile or may have pre-existing medical conditions. For these patients, concussions and other closed brain injuries can be fatal or can lead to long-term cognition problems, physical problems, mobility challenges and more.

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Sepsis in Nursing Homes in Hollywood and South Florida

Published on: November 15, 2017 | By Flaxman Law Group

Sepsis is caused by a complication to an injury. In this condition, the body fights an infection by releasing chemicals into the blood, only to have those chemicals cause an inflammatory reaction and then potential damage to organs or even organ failure. Often, sepsis begins with a rapid heart rate and high fever and can lead to septic shock or extremely low blood pressure which does not respond to treatment.

Sepsis can be very serious or even fatal. It is especially dangerous for those who are already ill or who are elderly. Unfortunately, this type of complication can occur after medical treatment, especially surgeries, and in the cases of some infections. It is a serious cause of injuries in nursing homes in Hollywood and South Florida.

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