Preventing common nursing home accidents

Elderly patients in Illinois nursing homes require 24-hour care. In their frail condition, they can be severely injured by commonplace accidents. Unfortunately, senior accidents often happen due to nursing home negligence.

Falls are the most common type of accident

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that almost 25% of seniors are injured by falls every year. Falling is a common accident for elderly nursing home patients who have an unsteady gait due to frailty or the side effects of medication. Nursing home negligence can lead to more falls when elderly patients try to fulfill their basic needs without assistance.

Bathrooms are the most dangerous room

Bathrooms are the most dangerous room in a nursing home for elderly patients. Since bathrooms have hard floors that are frequently wet, the chances of slipping and falling are greater in the bathroom than in any other room. Showering without assistance is particularly dangerous for elderly nursing home patients. To mitigate the dangers of bathroom falls, nursing homes can outfit bathrooms with:

• Grab bars
• Shower chairs
• Non-slip mats
• Life alert buttons

Be aware of winter hazards

Nursing home falls can also happen outdoors, especially when seniors take walks outside during the winter. When snow and ice accumulate on sidewalks, there is a huge risk of falling. Seniors are also more vulnerable to changes in temperature, and their bodies are less resistant to the effects of extreme cold.

Make sure your loved one is being monitored

So many senior accidents are completely preventable with appropriate patient monitoring. If you suspect that your loved one is being neglected in a nursing home, you may want to install a hidden camera in their room to determine how often they are being checked on.