Are nursing homes doing enough to prevent falls?

Nursing home falls can lead to broken bones, serious injury, and even death.  Considering how devastating falls can be for nursing home residents, the question has to be asked: are Virginia nursing homes doing enough to prevent falls?

One thing that does not prevent falls is routine restraint use.  Some nursing homes will use restraints, thinking that residents will be less likely to fall, but the reverse is true.  Studies show clearly that restraint use actually increases the likelihood that a resident will be injured or killed in a fall.  Not only that, but routine restraint use can be demoralizing for elderly residents and an overreliance on restraints can be equated to abuse.

Nursing homes can prevent falls by using a variety of tactics that include medical intervention, physical rehabilitation and making changes to resident’s living environment.

1. If a patient falls, staff and doctors should evaluate the person to understand what caused them to fall (physical limitations, environmental problems) and treat the underlying problem.
2. Nursing home staff should be educated about fall risk factors and strategies that can be used to prevent falls.
3. Staff can make changes to the nursing home environment to reduce the likelihood of a fall.  Changes include secure railings and grab bars, lower beds, raised toilet seats and ensuring rooms and common areas are clean, well-lit and clutter free.
4. Staff can outfit residents with hip pads that can reduce the likelihood that their hip will break in a fall.
5. Beds can be equipped with alarms that alert staff if a resident who needs help to move tries to get up without assistance.

Read more about nursing home falls in our law library articles “The Danger of Nursing Home Falls in Virginia” and “Virginia Nursing Homes and Restraint Abuse”.