Top 4 Causes of Falls in Rehabilitation Facilities

 Posted on October 12, 2022 in Personal Injury

Falls are an occurrence far too common in rehabilitation facilities. A majority of people staying in these care centers are there due to an injury that prevents them from being able to safely care for themselves at home. Some have mental impairments due to a recent stroke or brain injury. Others have physical injuries that restrict their movement. Many of those who are able to stand or walk are supposed to do so only with a caregiver present for safety and medical reasons. While not all falls can be prevented with a reasonable professional level of care, many can.

If you or your loved one was recently injured after falling in a rehabilitation facility, there is a possibility that the rehabilitation facility or one of its care providers was negligent in causing the injuries. If this proves to be the case, you or your loved one may be entitled to compensation. An attorney can assess you case and help you determine how to move forward. 

Common Causes of Falls in Rehabilitation Centers

Even professional caregivers sometimes make careless mistakes that can lead to a fall. Many patients in rehabilitation centers are particularly vulnerable and may suffer serious injuries when they fall. Common causes of falls include: 

• Inadequate supervision - Some patients may require more careful supervision than others to make sure that they do not try to get out of bed or out of their wheelchairs without help. Some patients may require a sitter. Additionally, patients may try to get up to perform a task for themselves after being unable to find a caregiver in a timely manner. 
• Trip and slip hazards - Walkways should be clear from tripping hazards and slippery surfaces. Many patients have an unsteady or delicate gait and may not spot a potential hazard in the hallway. 
• Unsafe equipment - Falls can happen when a piece of equipment used to support the patient’s weight fails. For example, a lift system may break and drop a patient, or a defective walker may fail to lock in place and slip, throwing the user dangerously off balance. Alternatively, unfamiliar equipment not properly introduced can lead to falls. 
• Medication errors - Some patients may be over-prescribed medications that cause dizziness or other balance and alertness concerns. Or, a patient may be inadvertently given too much of a medication by mistake, causing a change in their behavior or motor function. In other cases, a patient is given a new medication and not adequately monitored. 

If you suspect that you or your loved one’s fall in a rehabilitation center was due to another party’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation. 

Contact a Michigan Rehabilitation Facility Negligence Attorney

John D. Tallman, PLC, Attorney at Law is skilled in investigating cases involving falls in nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities. Our Grand Rapids rehabilitation facility negligence lawyers will strive to recover the compensation you deserve. Call 616-361-8850 for a free consultation. 

Source: 

https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-021-02649-1