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Tips to prevent fall-related injuries to nursing home residents
The best way to protect your loved one from falling in a nursing home is
to develop a fall prevention plan. You should:
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Consult your loved one's physician and request placement in a physical
conditioning or rehabilitation program that might include exercises to
improve strength and endurance, physical therapy, a walking program,
or gait training. Remember, there are many benefits to keeping people
mobile as long as possible, including greater muscle strength,
independence, ability to interact with the environment, greater sense
of well-being, preservation of dignity, and greater self-esteem.
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Assess the nursing home environment and request modifications to
improve mobility and safety, such as grab bars, handrails, raised
toilet seats, and proper bed height.
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Find out if the nursing home has an alarm system that activates when a
resident tries to get out of bed or move without assistance.
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Get regular eye check-ups. Poor vision can put the elderly at a
greater risk for falling.
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Know how to safely use the call bell so you, or your loved, one can
get fast assistance to get out of bed.
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Make sure assistive devices like wheelchairs, walkers, and canes are
properly maintained and fitted.
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Feet should be well maintained. Make sure shoes fit properly, are in
good condition, and have sufficient tread.
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Review all prescribed medications and discuss their potential risks
and benefits with the doctor. Side
effects of medication may place an older person at a higher risk
for falling.
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Assess the resident's room. Remove throw rugs, electrical cords, and
any other items that might cause a person to trip and fall.
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Ensure that the entire facility is well lit.
Statistical Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Preventing
Falls in Nursing Homes, 278 JAMA 595 (1997)
Put our experience to work for youWhen a loved one as been a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, you need an experienced law firm that will work hard to protect your loved one's rights. The attorneys at Edgar Snyder & Associates have been helping injury victims and their families for over 25 years. In addition, our highly-rated law firm has represented more than 30,000 injured people and has answered over 350,000 injury-related legal questions. Let us put this experience to work for you. Free ConsultationIf someone you care about has been the unfortunate victim of abuse or neglect in a nursing home, you can contact our law firm for a free consultation of your claim by: - Calling our law firm from anywhere in the United States toll-free at 1-866-648-7608. Our phones answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Completing an online consultation form.
We will answer your questions without charge and there is no obligation to use our services. And, as we say in our TV ads, "there's never a fee unlesswe get money for you." |
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Copyright 2002-2008 NursingHomeAbuseResourceCenter.com is sponsored by the Law Offices of Edgar Snyder & Associates, A Law Firm Representing Injured People. Attorney Edgar Snyder & Associates has offices throughout Western Pennsylvania including locations in: Erie,PA; Johnstown,Penna; Ebensburg, Pennsylvania and Altoona, PA. All of our lawyers are licensed to practice law in the state of Pennsylvania. We also have attorneys licensed to practice law in the states of West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, New Jersey, Georgia and Virginia. Although this website is not intended to solicit clients for matters outside of the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia, if you are injured in an accident, we have relationships with other personal injury attorneys and lawyers throughout the United States.
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