Nursing homes are supposed to be a safe place where our loved ones can go to receive the care and support they need due to medical issues or injuries. Unfortunately, there is a growing number of reports and lawsuits concerning nursing home abuse. This issue is rapidly becoming an even larger concern with the number of baby boomers who are reaching the age where they are more likely to require nursing home care.
There are a number of different injuries that have arisen out of nursing home abuse and neglect, but one that is slowly becoming more evident is broken arms. There have been a number of lawsuits related to patients who have suffered a broken arm at the hands of those that are charged to care for them.
Broken bones aren’t necessarily all that serious when we are younger, but as we age, our bones become more brittle, and they take considerably longer to heal. The brittleness of the bones means they can no longer withstand as much pressure, and this is where the abuse factor comes into play in nursing homes – simply grabbing or yanking on a patient out of frustration can cause a fracture.
Nursing home neglect is another factor that can lead to a broken arm. If a patient that requires assistance isn’t given it, or if they are not monitored, they can easily fall. Falls in nursing homes are quite common, but there are nearly 1,800 residents each year who die as a result of the injuries that they suffer from falls. Whether a resident falls due to slipping on wet floors, inadequate lighting, walkways that are not kept clean, or even falling out of an ill-fitting wheelchair, it is considered nursing home neglect. This is because the fall could have been prevented with proper attention and following procedures.
In many nursing homes, there is simply not enough staff to deal with the number of patients, and this causes problems as well. Residents who need assistance are often ignored, or simply get tired of waiting for someone to respond to them when they need help. When this happens, they attempt to get up or go to the toilet on their own, which often results in falls as well. As the nursing homes are not providing adequate staffing, this is also considered neglect.
There have been several cases of lawsuits that have been brought to the courts based on unexplainable or questionable circumstances surrounding a broken arm. The following are two of the most recent:
If your loved one has suffered a broken arm under questionable circumstances, you need to contact a lawyer to see what your loved one’s rights are, and whether it is a case of abuse or neglect.
Sources:
http://www.wlwt.com/news/wlwt-investigates-family-claims-68yearold-was-abused-in-nursing-home/26060482
http://www.courant.com/health/hc-nursing-homes-cited-20150223-story.html