Originally published: October 19, 2021 -- Updated: January 5, 2023

Update: In addition to understanding the causes of falls in nursing homes, as discussed below, it is also important to understand the different types of injuries that can occur in these situations. Elderly or disabled nursing home residents are often in frail physical condition, and an incident that may have caused minor injuries to others may result in serious complications affecting their health and well-being. Common injuries in these types of fall accidents include:

• Broken bones - Broken hips and other bone fractures are some of the most common injuries nursing home residents suffer in falls. Elderly people often have brittle bones, especially if they suffer from conditions such as osteoporosis, and sustained fractures may never heal properly. This may cause them to experience severe pain and issues that affect their mobility.
• Head trauma - Nursing home residents may suffer from concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), or even skull fractures in a fall accident. When a person experiences diminished reflexes or does not have the physical strength to brace themselves against a fall, they may strike their head on the ground or other objects, resulting in severe injuries that may lead to permanent impairment or death.
• Internal organ damage - Damage to organs, especially the lungs and spleen, is a relatively common nursing home injury that can occur in a fall. If nursing home staff do not provide prompt medical attention after a fall, a resident may suffer from internal bleeding or organ failure. 
• Spinal cord injuries - Falls are one of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries in nursing home residents. These types of incidents may lead to temporary or permanent paralysis, and a nursing home resident may experience excruciating pain, mobility issues, and other health complications. 
• Severe bruising, lacerations, or sprains - In some cases, these types of nursing home injuries can cause a nursing home resident to experience long-term complications or chronic pain. These issues may also lead to other complications, such as serious infections, that may affect a person's overall health.

It is important to understand the risks nursing home residents face and the types of injuries they can suffer as a result of negligence. If your loved one has been injured in a fall accident that took place at a nursing home, the DuPage County nursing home negligence lawyers of Kaiser Hafezi Law can investigate the incident and determine if a nursing home facility is liable for the damages your family has suffered. Contact us at 630-233-9946 to arrange a free consultation today.

Nursing home residents should have access to consistently high-quality care. Unfortunately, not every nursing home provides the standard of care residents need and deserve. Stories of intentional nursing home abuse often make news headlines, but less attention is paid to nursing home neglect.

Nursing home neglect can be extremely dangerous, and in many cases, deadly. Residents who do not receive the medical attention and day-to-day care they need can suffer from new and worsened health concerns that significantly decrease their quality of life. In extreme cases, nursing home neglect is fatal.

Nursing Home Neglect Resulting in a Resident’s Untimely Death

Many people who live in nursing homes are elderly and in poor health. They need help with everyday tasks like eating meals, bathing, using the restroom, and getting in and out of bed. Most residents are also on one or more medications which must be administered regularly. When staff fails to provide the care and attention residents need, they can suffer profoundly. Some are unable to survive the consequences of the neglect. Examples of nursing home neglect that can be fatal include:

Losing someone in an accident caused by another person’s reckless actions is heartbreaking. If you have lost a close relative in a drunk driving car accident, you may be facing tremendous grief as well as burdensome financial problems. Illinois law gives surviving loved ones the right to bring a wrongful death claim against a party when that party’s reckless, illegal, or intentionally harmful conduct causes someone’s death. If your loved one was killed in a drunk driving crash, a wrongful death claim may help you hold the negligent driver accountable for the death as well as recover compensation for your financial losses.

What Is Considered a Wrongful Death in Illinois?

A wrongful death claim can be thought of as an injury claim that is brought on a deceased person’s behalf. According to Illinois statute, a successful wrongful death claim is possible when: