My Loved One Suffered a Broken Bone or Fracture in their Illinois Nursing Home. What Can I Do if I Suspect Abuse? 

 Posted on March 21, 2022 in Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

After a family has made the difficult, often heartbreaking decision to move a loved one into an Illinois nursing home, the family members of the nursing home resident may continue to face additional stress because they worry their loved one is not being properly cared for. Stories of nursing home neglect and abuse are widespread, and, unfortunately, incidents are common. Although accidents and injuries tend to happen more often to elderly people, if your loved one has suffered a broken bone or fracture in their nursing home, you may rightfully wonder if it was an accident or whether something like neglect or even physical abuse is going on. 

What Causes Broken Bones and Fractures in Nursing Home Residents? 

In addition to the clear dangers of physical abuse, more mundane behavior on the part of nursing home staff and supervisors may be responsible for residents’ injuries. Nursing home residents often suffer from weakness, frailty, and difficulty with independent movement. This places them at increased risk of falling and getting injured, especially if nursing home staff are not properly monitoring residents and offering support when necessary. Even minor accidents can result in serious injuries, and not every injury is a consequence of nursing home neglect. However, many behaviors can contribute to an increased rate of resident injuries, including: 

• Cluttered, unclean, or uneven walkways

• Poorly constructed or missing safety supports, such as guardrails, grab bars, and lighting

• Negligent staff supervision of residents with mobility issues 

• Undertrained staff who do not know how to move patients safely

• A dangerously high staff-to-patient ratio or other issues that lead to overworked staff

• Improper use of restraints, sedatives, or medication 

It is important to note that a fracture may not be immediately obvious in elderly patients, especially if they struggle to communicate. Staff and family members should be on the alert for signs that a patient is suffering from a fractured or broken bone. Symptoms may include: 

• Swelling

• Redness

• Bruising

• Obvious deformity or misshapen features, even if bruising is not present 

• Restlessness, moaning, or other signs of pain

• Trouble moving 

Talk to a Rockford, IL Nursing Home Injuries Lawyer

Placing your parent or other loved one in a nursing home requires trust in the ability of the nursing home to provide the best care. When a nursing home resident suffers a serious injury like a bone fracture, you may want to take steps to determine whether they were put at risk because of the nursing home’s negligent behavior. At Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law, we have experience helping families pursue compensation after unthinkable events of abuse and neglect. You can learn more by scheduling a free consultation with a skilled Rockford nursing home injury attorney today. Call us at 815-215-7561. 

Source: 

https://www.nm.org/conditions-and-care-areas/orthopaedics/geriatric-fractures