Even in nursing homes, where the risks of harm to seniors and other vulnerable adults should be minimized, falls still occur that cause serious and even fatal injuries.
These often involve traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and hip fractures. However, falls can also cause spinal cord injuries. In fact, falls are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in those over 65.
Seniors are more susceptible to spinal cord injuries in falls than younger adults, in large part because of common underlying conditions. For example, arthritis can cause the spine to narrow, which affects flexibility. If a person falls at an unnatural angle where the body is twisted, that can exacerbate the injury to the spinal cord.
What kind of harm can a spinal cord injury cause?
People most commonly associate spinal cord injuries with paralysis. Certainly, that’s a particularly serious outcome. However, spinal cord injuries can also cause other serious outcomes, including:
- Respiratory and lung conditions, including pneumonia
- Circulatory conditions like highly elevated blood pressure
- Loss of bladder and/or bowel control
Further, one neurosurgeon explains, “Falls in the elderly can be life-threatening, as their brains are not as responsive to healing….” That means potentially being moved to a hospital or rehabilitation facility where they could contract a hospital-acquired infection. Even a spinal cord injury from a fall that doesn’t cause paralysis can minimize a senior’s mobility even more. The pain, lessened mobility and fear of falling can cause a downward health spiral, much like many who suffer hip fractures experience.
Many nursing home falls could be prevented with better staffing and more attentiveness by the caregivers who are there. Something as simple as not properly securing bed railings or not responding to a patient’s call for assistance to get to the bathroom can result in a serious fall. Further, if a resident isn’t thoroughly examined for injuries after a fall, internal injuries can become more severe and even life threatening.
If a loved one is injured in a fall at a nursing home, loved ones can and should seek answers to how it happened and what kind of care and treatment they’re receiving in the aftermath. It may be worthwhile to discuss the matter with an experienced legal professional to determine whether the facility and its personnel have some liability.