Why are bed rail injuries so common in Jupiter nursing homes?

Entrusting the care of your loved one to a Florida nursing home facility can be frightening. We want the best possible care for those who spent their lives taking care of us-but we’re overwhelmed by horror stories of abuse and mistreatment. Many of our clients were shocked to discover there are hidden dangers they had never even heard of, such hospital bed rail injuries.

So why are bed rails likely to cause a Jupiter nursing home injury?

• Deterioration. Many Florida nursing homes do not have the funds to update their equipment on a regular basis. Their beds could be heavily outdated, known to be dangerous-some have even been recalled due to malfunction. These nursing homes continue to use them, figuring a dangerous bed is better than no bed at all.
• Rental oversights. Nursing home beds are commonly rented from medical supply companies. When these beds are distributed, parts are often considered interchangeable: a mattress from one type of bed will often be mixed with the frame of another, causing dangerous gaps where a person’s limbs, fingers or even whole body may be wedged or trapped.
• Unnecessary use. Although bed restraints are used for patient safety, many injuries could have been avoided if they were not used at all. Patients are often confined to their beds whether or not their condition requires it, resulting in injury when the patient tries to change positions or free himself from the bed.

 Defective or unnecessary bed rails have been known to cause:

• Cuts and bruises as a result of sharp edges or age-worn bed frames
• Head injuries as frustrated or mentally ill patients bang their heads against the headboard
• Fractured bones as patients attempt to climb over the rails instead of lowering them
• Falls as a result of a patient trying to escape the confines of the bed
• Strangulation and sprains as sheets and clothing become caught in the rails
• Entrapment, usually when underweight or weak patients become lodged in gaps in the bed frame
• Asphyxiation, commonly in cases of sick or mentally ill patients
• Death as a result of injuries or simple neglect

It is important to remember that bed rail injuries are not a necessary risk of your parent’s care: they are a form of abuse. As experienced Jupiter nursing home abuse attorneys, we know how scary it is to see your parent suffering injuries when he was supposed to be cared for in comfort.

Irresponsible nursing home facilities must be held accountable for their actions-and your loved one deserves justice for his injuries. Get help today by calling Fetterman & Associates at (866) 865-1244 for a free consultation.