The High Cost of Palm Beach Nursing Home Falls

Palm Beach nursing home falls occur more frequently than most people would imagine. They are usually preventable, but the necessary steps to prevent these dangerous falls are often not taken. These falls cause extreme pain and suffering, and older adults cannot heal as quickly. This fragility results in numerous deaths from nursing home falls each year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
• One in three adults, age 65 and older, falls each year.
• Of those who fall, 20 percent to 30 percent suffer moderate to severe injuries. These injuries make it difficult for them to get around or live independently. These injuries can also shorten their lives.
• Fall related injuries are the most common reason for hospitalization of older adults. In fact, injuries from falls account for five times more hospitalizations than any other injuries.

These falls cost nearly $20,000 per person and account for $19 billion in healthcare costs per year. These costs include hospital and nursing home care, rehabilitation, medical equipment, prescription drugs, home rearrangement, and insurance processing.

Fall-related Injuries
• The most common fall-related injuries are traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and injuries to the hips, legs, and feet. These injuries account for 78 percent of fatalities.
• Nursing home falls that cause injuries to internal organs contribute to 28 percent of fatalities.
• Fractures are the most common and most costly type of nonfatal inqury.
• Approximately one-third of nursing home falls result in a fracture; fractures, however, account for about 61 percent of fall related costs.

Nursing homes need to implement procedures to prevent these dangerous falls, and should be held accountable for allowing so many falls to happen on their premises. If your loved one has suffered a devastating fall due to a nursing home's neglectful failure to ensure a safe environment, you need to speak with a Palm Beach nursing home neglect attorney today. Contact Fetterman & Associates at 1-800-LAW IN FL (529-4635) for a free consultation regarding your Palm Beach nursing home abuse case.