Serious Bodily Injury in an OKC Nursing Home

Nursing home neglect and abuse can be dangerous. For some patients, serious bodily injury can result. A serious bodily injury may be caused by physical abuse, improper medical care, or neglect.

Serious Bodily Injuries and Emergency Room Visits

About 1.3 million U.S. residents currently live in nursing homes nationwide, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of these, about eight percent, or 123,600, have visited a hospital emergency room due to a serious injury within the last 90 days. Of these, 18,400, or about 15 percent, were there for their second or later serious injury within 90 days.

The CDC estimates that 40 percent of nursing home residents' emergency room visits are preventable. With better care in the nursing home itself, these residents may never have been injured at all, and thus would not have had to incur the time, pain, and expense of an emergency room visit. Patients with preventable injuries, however, usually also had shorter hospital stays.

Common Serious Bodily Injuries

Falls are the most common source of serious bodily injuries among nursing home residents, according to the CDC. Although nursing home residents account for only about 5 percent of U.S. residents aged 60 or older, falls among nursing home residents cause 20 percent of the deaths in this age group.

About 35 percent of falls occur among nursing home residents who cannot walk, according to the CDC. The rate of falls among all nursing home residents is twice the rate of falls among elderly people who don't live in nursing homes. Up to 75 percent of nursing home residents will fall at least once in the next year, and the average is 2.6 falls per person per year.

The CDC estimates that 1,800 people die each year from nursing home falls. Another 20 percent of those who fall in nursing homes suffer serious injuries. Common serious injuries caused by falls include:

• fractures, especially fractures of the hip, that require surgery, extended stays in bed, or both;
• traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), like concussions;
• sprains, strains, dislocations, and serious bruising; and
• depression and social isolation caused by loss of mobility and extended healing periods.

Falls account for about 36 percent of emergency room visits among nursing home residents. Other major sources of emergency room visits include pneumonia and heart conditions. These conditions can also cause serious bodily injuries, even when treated. Pneumonia can cause permanent breathing impairments and other problems, while heart conditions can cause damage to organs and nerves due to blood loss, as well as stroke, which can cause a wide range of permanent neurological impairments.

Legal Help When You Need it Most

When you choose a nursing home for an elderly loved one, you strive to find a place where your loved one will be safe. Serious bodily injuries are not only painful, expensive, and distressing for your loved one, but they can also severely rattle your confidence in the safety and healthfulness of the nursing home your loved one occupies. If you or someone you love has been injured in a nursing home, an experienced Oklahoma City nursing home neglect attorney at Maples Harrison Zeaman PLLC can help. To talk, call us today at (405) 705-5050 for a free, confidential consultation.