Hip Fractures in Nursing Homes: The Startling Statistics

Many families start looking into nursing homes when they become worried about the safety of an elderly relative. However, safety isn't guaranteed, even in a nursing home. Did you know that an elderly person living in a nursing home is actually more likely to fracture a hip while at the facility than if he or she had remained living independently? Unfortunately, unsafe conditions at many nursing homes can cause potentially life-threatening slips and falls.

A broken hip is a traumatic injury. The hip must be stabilized with screws and plates that are surgically inserted. Once the hip has healed, the injured individual will need extensive physical therapy in order to regain mobility. However, the outcome is rarely positive for nursing home residents. Consider the following statistics:

• 17% to 33% of nursing home residents who sustain hip fractures die in the year following the fall;
• 25% to 33% of nursing home residents permanently lose the ability to walk after a hip fracture;
• As many as 15% of hip fracture patients in nursing homes suffer from bed sores or pressure sores.

Nursing homes are responsible for preventing falls and injuries. If you or a loved one has sustained a hip fracture as a resident of a Florida nursing home, you may have a Florida nursing home neglect claim. To learn more, contact West Palm Beach nursing home abuse lawyer Craig Goldenfarb. Call 888-348-2616 today.