Falling is a common cause of injury among the elderly, and is of major concern among those with mobility or balance issues, or impaired vision, or who take certain medications. Falls typically occur in nursing homes because a resident at risk of falling is not monitored or assisted a required. A fall may result in injuries ranging from scrapes and bruises, to sprains, strains, and fractures. Older bones are more likely to break, and a senior who falls can easily break an arm or leg.

However, two specific injuries are more likely to occur if a nursing home resident falls:

• Hip Fractures | A hip fracture is a serious injury with complications that can be life-threatening. In most cases, surgery to repair or replace a broken hip with a prosthetic is required, which is followed by months of physical therapy.


• Head Injuries | An elderly nursing home resident who hits their head in a fall is likely to suffer a concussion or a more severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). This can cause intracranial bleeding, induce seizures and result in lasting cognitive impairment and other debilitating medical problems.

Bedsores, also known as “pressure sores” or “pressure ulcers,” are caused by lying or sitting still for long periods of time. Advanced bed sores are known in the medical community as “never events,” meaning an individual who enters a nursing home or hospital without bed sores should never develop one that is allowed to progress to stage 3 or 4. Pressure sores occur through neglect of nursing home residents who cannot move themselves and need to be assisted or turned on a regular schedule.

Bed sores form as the constant pressure of the patient’s body first causes skin and then underlying tissue to break down. Pressure sores are more likely to develop where a person has little fat or muscle between skin and bone, such as at the spine, tailbone, shoulder blades, hips, heels and elbows. A bedsore starts as a tender spot, and if not treated promptly can become a painful bleeding wound that can eventually cause extensive damage to muscle and other surrounding tissue.

Open wounds — such as bed sores — that are not properly treated can easily become infected. Infections that develop in a nursing home resident are known as a “healthcare-acquired infections” (HAIs) and are caused by negligence. HAIs typically occur because of unsanitary conditions or because nursing home staff members do not follow proper procedures. Urinary tract infections (UTIs), surgical site infections, bloodstream infections, pneumonia, diarrheal diseases, antibiotic-resistant staph infections and other types of infections contracted in nursing homes are a major cause of hospitalization and death.

Dysphagia, the difficulty or inability to swallow, is a concern in patients who have suffered nerve or brain damage, such as caused by stroke or other TBI, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or other illnesses. Some medications make it more difficult to swallow. Choking, or obstruction of the airway, can cause loss of consciousness and eventually, if breathing is not restored, the lack of oxygen (asphyxiation) will lead to brain damage or death.

Nursing home staff should be trained to understand the various degenerative diseases, injuries and medications that can cause or increase chewing or swallowing difficulties, and how to quickly recognize choking and to clear obstructed airways. Residents with choking risks should be monitored continually and assisted with food and beverages. Allowing a nursing home resident who is known to exhibit signs of dysphagia or to otherwise be at risk of choking to choke and become injured is neglect.

Burns may be caused by exposure to flame, scalding liquids, chemicals, electrical current, radiation (faulty x-ray equipment / procedures), sun (sunburn). Burn injuries may be accidental, but are likely because of neglectful lapses or abuse.