Statistics on the Increased Risk of Death Following a Broken Hip

A long-term CHANCES project analysis found increased all-cause mortality after hip fracture, with a fully adjusted hazard ratio of 2.12.

The first months are especially dangerous. A meta-analysis of excess mortality after hip fracture found a relative hazard of all-cause mortality in the first three months of 5.75 in women and 7.95 in men. A different systematic epidemiological review found first-year excess mortality ranging from 8.4% to 36%. Another population-based mortality study reported 27.3% one-year postoperative mortality and a threefold mortality rate compared with the general population. 

In nursing homes, a study of hip fracture incidence in U.S. nursing homes is summarized as showing that one in three residents dies within 180 days of a hip fracture. That is why a broken hip must be treated as a serious injury.

What Are the Risk Factors for Hip Fractures in Elderly Adults?

Risk factors for hip injury often overlap in long-term care. Common factors for hip fractures include advanced age, osteoporosis, weaker muscles, poor vision, neurological disorders, reduced physical activity, and a high risk of falls. In elderly people, poor vision and certain medical conditions can impair balance, and unlike younger adults, most nursing home cases do not stem from car accidents.

Low Bone Density and High Bone Fragility

Bone density declines with age, and osteoporosis weakens bone tissue. That raises bone fragility, so a fall onto the hip area can cause femoral neck fractures, femoral head fractures, or other severe fractures. The UCLA explanation of why hip fractures in the elderly often lead to bad outcomes notes that progressive loss of bone mass and density leaves bones thin and brittle. To improve low bone mass and maintain bone density, older adults often need vitamin D supplementation, adequate nutrition, and treatment aimed at weakened bones before another fall occurs.

Dementia

Dementia is a significant risk factor because residents may forget safety limits, attempt unsafe transfers, or fail to report severe pain after a fall. The StatPearls hip fracture overview lists prior falls, gait problems, walking aids, vertigo, Parkinson’s disease, and other medical conditions among the main risk factors for hip fracture in the elderly.

Lung and Heart Disease

Heart disease, lung disease, and other underlying medical conditions leave less reserve for surgery, blood loss, infection, and immobility. A study on the Mortality Following Hip Fracture in Older Adults With and Without Coronary Heart Disease reports very high short-term and long-term mortality in older adults with coronary heart disease who sustain a hip fracture.

Nursing Home Risks

Nursing home residents often suffer from frailty, lower muscle mass, more pre-existing health conditions, poorer baseline mobility, and an increased risk of delayed response after a fall. A hip fracture, compared with many other fractures, is more likely to cause decreased mobility, immobility-related decline, and poor outcomes.

How Do Hip Fractures Lead to Death?

Hip fractures lead to death through overlapping medical problems, including post-surgical complications after repair. The AAOS clinical practice guideline for management of hip fractures in older adults states that hip fracture surgery within 24 to 48 hours of admission may be associated with better outcomes and that venous thromboembolism prophylaxis should be used in hip fracture patients because they are at high risk for deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Immobility

Immobility is one of the clearest reasons elderly patients die after a hip fracture. Severe pain after a fall and post-surgery pain keep many in bed. Muscle mass drops, lung function drops, and pressure sores form. When patients with a hip fracture undergo surgery, they still need movement. Delay can mean severe complications and even death. Some fractures require complete or partial hip replacement rather than fixation alone.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia often follows bed rest, shallow breathing, sedation, and weakness. A systematic review and meta-analysis of hospital-acquired pneumonia in hip fracture patients identified older age, COPD, time from injury to operation, history of stroke, and number of comorbidities among recurring risk factors.

Blood Clots

Blood clots can form in the legs when movement decreases. This is one of the main reasons a hip fracture dramatically increases the risk of death, especially in elderly patients with poor mobility or delayed transfer.

Pulmonary Embolism

A clot that travels to the lungs can cause sudden collapse. This is one of the most feared severe complications following a hip fracture.

Infections

Infections after a broken hip may involve the lungs, urinary tract, pressure sores, or the surgical site. Poor surgical wound care can turn a treatable problem into sepsis and death.

Heart Failure

A hip fracture places sudden stress on the cardiovascular system. Blood loss, inflammation, dehydration, and infection can worsen cardiac failure or trigger other cardiac decline.

Other Medical Decline

Some residents do not die right away, but hip fracture results still include deconditioning, loss of independence, delirium, pressure sores, depression, and inability to return to prior functioning. A study on physical activity and social isolation in older adults found that greater social isolation was associated with depressive symptoms and cardiac decline. Families should know that elderly patients die from this kind of slow decline, too, rather than from one sudden event.

When Does a Hip Fracture Indicate Nursing Home Neglect?

A hip fracture may point to neglect when the records fail the following criteria:

• Preventable falls: The resident had a known risk factor, yet the facility failed to implement preventive care.
• Lack of supervision: Staff left a resident alone despite a clear risk of falls.
• Unsafe transfers: Staff ignored lift procedures or failed to provide assistance.
• Ignored fall risk: The care plan called for alarms, checks, or transfer assistance, but these steps were not followed.
• Delayed ER transfer: Staff waited too long, even though the resident had sharp pain or could not bear weight.
• Failure to diagnose fractures promptly: Bone fragments or severe fractures may be missed when staff treat the injury as a bruise.
• Poor monitoring after the injury: The facility failed to watch for blood clots, pneumonia, infection, delirium, or worsening heart function.

What Should Families Do After a Nursing Home Resident Suffers a Hip Fracture?

After a fracture, families should move quickly and keep the focus on facts:

1. Get immediate medical evaluation. Ask whether imaging, medical management, surgical intervention, or hip fracture surgery is needed.
2. Request records and incident reports. Collect nursing notes, hospital records, and transfer records.
3. Photograph injuries and conditions. Document bruising, the room, the floor, and anything relevant to the hip area.
4. Identify witnesses and staff on duty. Knowing names and shift times can become important.
5. Ask about fall precautions and care plan. Find out what preventive measures were in place before the fall.
6. Speak with a nursing home hip fracture lawyer. Contact a lawyer if the injury may have been preventable.

How a Lawyer Can Help

A nursing home broken bone lawyer can help by:

• Reviewing records to build the timeline
• Checking fall-risk documentation and other factors for hip fractures
• Investigating staffing and supervision
• Determining whether the fall was preventable
• Evaluating whether delayed treatment or poor surgical wound care worsened patient outcomes
• Pursuing a claim if neglect contributed to death, emotional distress, or major medical expenses

Secure Expert Legal Counsel

Our nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer team can review your case and tell your family whether neglect likely contributed to the decline and death. Our law firm has recovered compensation for numerous clients in serious nursing home injury cases, including:

• Helen’s case resolved for $1,700,000 after a nursing home fall caused a subdural hematoma and hip fracture.
• Denise’s claim was resolved for $1,095,000 after staff failed to get her out of bed at prescribed intervals following hip surgery, leading to severe pressure sores and multiple procedures.
• Marjorie’s case resolved for $600,000 after staff ignored a two-person assist during a Hoyer lift transfer. She fell, fractured her hip and femur, underwent surgery, and died four weeks later.

We offer a free consultation, and you pay no fee unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us to discuss your legal options.

FAQs

At what age is a hip fracture life-threatening?

There is no single age cutoff, but older age sharply increases the risk of death. The danger rises when elderly patients also have osteoporosis, low body mass index, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, or other chronic conditions. A broken femur is dangerous because hip fractures can lead to immobility, infection, clots, and cardiac decline.

How long does it take to recover from a broken hip?

Recovery often takes months. Some patients regain walking ability with physical therapy, pain management, and close medical management, but many never restore mobility or reach full recovery. That UCLA overview notes that physical therapy starts almost immediately and helps prevent infection, pneumonia, and clots, while occupational therapy also supports recovery.

How can nursing home patient outcomes be improved following a hip fracture?

Better patient outcomes after a hip fracture depend on prompt diagnosis, timely surgery, prevention of clots, nutrition, and rehabilitation. The HIPFIT randomized trial found that targeted multidisciplinary treatment reduced mortality, nursing home admissions, and ADL dependency. The Mini Nutritional Assessment study found that nutritional status predicted gait status and mortality at six months. The frailty exercise review explains that physical activity, resistance training, and flexibility training can improve strength and reduce frailty, while the strength training and balance study found that lower-limb strengthening improved balance. Balance exercises that strengthen bones can help reduce the risk of a future fracture.

What damages can be recovered for nursing home hip fractures with fatal outcomes?

The compensation awarded in lawsuits against nursing homes may include medical expenses, hospitalization costs, pain and suffering, funeral expenses, and wrongful death damages where state law allows. A nursing home wrongful death attorney can review whether the records support a claim.

42 C.F.R. § 483.25(d) requires nursing homes to keep the resident environment as free of accident hazards as possible and to provide adequate supervision and assistance devices to prevent accidents. If your loved one suffered a broken femur in a nursing home, we can examine whether the facility ignored fall risks, used unsafe transfer practices, or failed to protect a resident who needed more help than the staff provided.

What Are the Complications of a Broken Thighbone?

Here are common complications of femoral fractures, how they develop, and what consequences they can have.

Immediate Complications

Blood Loss and Shock

One reason why a broken femur is dangerous is the risk of major blood loss. The femur is the strongest bone in the body, and a fracture can damage nearby soft tissue and blood vessels. In more severe cases, that blood loss can be enough to trigger shock. Frail older adults are often less able to tolerate that kind of trauma.

Swelling or bleeding after the fracture can increase pressure inside muscles, leading to acute compartment syndrome, which cuts off blood flow and causes permanent tissue or nerve damage if not treated quickly.

Severe Pain

A broken femur is usually intensely painful. The pain itself can limit movement, complicate transfers, and make it difficult for a resident to participate in early care or rehabilitation. In a nursing home setting, pain after a fall or transfer incident should never be brushed aside.

Blood Vessel Injury or Nerve Damage 

Sharp bone fragments can injure nearby blood vessels or nerves. That kind of damage can worsen the initial trauma and complicate both surgery and recovery. 

Knee and Hip Fracture

Femoral neck fractures can lead to hip fractures, and closed fractures in the lower part of the femur may damage the knee joint. In older residents with osteoporosis or prior joint problems, the added damage of a broken hip can make recovery more painful and less complete.

Open Fracture Infection Risk

If the bone pierces the skin, the risk of infection rises immediately. Open broken bones expose deeper tissue to bacteria and often require urgent surgical management. That is one reason these injuries are treated as orthopedic emergencies.

Longer-Team Complications

Blood Clots

After a broken femur, the injured leg is often immobilized for a significant period. That reduced movement slows blood flow and increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis. If a clot breaks loose and travels to the lungs, it can cause a pulmonary embolism. 

The femur contains bone marrow, and a severe fracture can release fat and marrow contents into the bloodstream. That is why fat embolism syndrome can follow certain femur fractures.

Surgical Infection

Many femur fractures require surgery, including skeletal traction, internal fixation, or external fixation in some cases. Surgery can stabilize the bone, but it also creates another pathway for complications, including wound infection or deeper bone infection. Older residents are especially vulnerable when recovery is prolonged or their overall health is already fragile.

Pressure Sores From Immobility

A resident who cannot turn, walk, or transfer normally after a fractured femur may spend extended periods in bed or in a chair. That kind of immobility can increase the risk of pressure injuries, particularly in nursing home residents who already have poor circulation, frailty, or limited mobility.

Muscle Atrophy and Joint Stiffness

Long recovery periods can lead to rapid muscle loss and reduced joint function. Full recovery after surgery can take four to six months, and many residents need physical therapy to restore normal muscle strength during that period. In elderly patients, too much inactivity can lead to lasting weakness.

Permanent Mobility Decline

Some residents never return to their prior level of function after a thigh bone fracture. What begins as a fracture can end with long-term walker use, wheelchair dependence, or the loss of safe independent transfers. That decline is often more severe in residents who were already frail before the injury.

Depression and Social Withdrawal

Loss of mobility can shrink a resident’s world quickly. Pain, dependence on others, and a long recovery often lead to withdrawal from daily activities and social interaction. In nursing home residents, that decline can affect both mental health and overall quality of life.

How Do Broken Femurs Happen in Nursing Homes?

A broken femur in a nursing home often follows a preventable accident rather than an unavoidable event. Common causes include:

• Falls without supervision, especially when a resident is allowed to walk, toilet, or transfer alone despite needing help;
• Unsafe transfers, including rushed or poorly executed moves between the bed, wheelchair, toilet, or shower chair;
• Hoyer lift misuse, such as improper sling placement, poor positioning, or failure to follow safe lifting procedures;
• Failure to use gait belts when hands-on assistance was needed;
• Not responding to call lights, leaving residents to try to stand or move on their own;
• Leaving high-risk residents unassisted, even when the facility knew they had balance problems, weakness, or confusion;
• Failing to care-plan for osteoporosis, dementia, or mobility limits, despite those conditions increasing the likelihood of a serious fracture.

In many cases, the fracture itself is only part of the story. The real question is whether the nursing home recognized the resident’s needs and put reasonable safeguards in place before the injury happened.

What Are the Risk Factors for a Fractured Femur?

In elderly patients, the bone heals more slowly due to risk factors such as weakened bones, reduced circulation, falls, and pre-existing conditions like osteoporosis. 

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis weakens bones by reducing bone density, making them more fragile and prone to fractures. This condition significantly increases the risk of breaks in older adults, especially in weight-bearing bones like the femur, often after minor falls or injuries.

Falls

Poor balance, medical conditions, hazards, and certain medications often cause falls in older adults. In a nursing home setting, falls are common when the facility fails to secure the environment and reduce accident hazards or when there aren’t enough nursing staff to supervise the residents properly.

Combined with osteoporosis, even a minor fall can end in a serious injury and a fractured bone. 

Medical Conditions

Other medical conditions can increase the risk of a broken leg. These include:

• Arthritis
• Neurological disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, stroke)
• Diabetes (due to nerve damage and increased fall risk)
• Vision impairments
• Muscle weakness
• Cognitive impairments (e.g., dementia)

What Are the Signs of a Broken Femur in a Nursing Home Resident?

A broken femur is usually obvious from the resident’s condition, even before imaging confirms the injury. Common signs include:

• Severe pain, especially in the thigh, hip, or leg;
• Swelling in the thigh or surrounding area;
• Bruising over the injured thigh;
• Leg shortening, where the injured leg appears shorter than the other;
• Leg turning outward, which can signal a serious fracture or associated hip involvement;
• Inability to stand or bear weight on the injured leg;
• Bleeding or exposed broken bone.

In a nursing home, signs like these should trigger an immediate medical response. Our nursing home fracture lawyers often review cases where a resident’s pain, swelling, or inability to stand was treated too casually at first. 

How Do Physicians Treat Broken Femurs?

Although it is a severe medical problem for elderly adults, there are some treatment options that can help.

Surgical Treatment

Common surgical procedures for broken femurs include a surgical procedure called Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF), as well as hip and knee replacement surgeries.

During Open Reduction Internal Fixation, orthopedic surgeons realign the broken thighbone and securing it with metal plates and screws. In contrast, hip replacement surgery involves replacing the damaged hip joint (which often happens together with a femoral shaft fracture) with an artificial joint.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation therapy can help people regain mobility and strength after a femur fracture. A physical therapist aids the patient in exercising to improve range of motion, strengthen muscles, and enhance balance. 

Physical therapy also provides pain relief and reduces the risk of complications.

Challenges of Recovery

Nursing home residents often face additional challenges during the recovery process.

First, broken femurs cause significant pain, which is persistent and requires pain medication (which also comes with its own risks). The pain, displaced fracture, and surgery recovery can all limit a person’s mobility, leading to muscle atrophy and joint stiffness.

Finally, there is an increased risk of complications, like infections, blood clots, and pressure sores, while the fracture heals more slowly than in younger adults.

The Role of a Care Home Abuse Lawyer

A care home abuse lawyer can protect the rights of residents who have suffered a broken femur by providing the following services:

• Investigating the circumstances of the injury
• Investigating if the facility followed regulations and protocols
• Filing a claim
• Negotiating a settlement
• Representing the client in court if necessary

Negligence and Liability

Nursing homes have a legal responsibility to ensure their environment is free from accident hazards, that their staff is trained to prevent accidents, and that they hire enough staff to supervise the residents. 

If they have failed to protect your loved one, you can hold them liable for the injury or inadequate care with the help of an attorney.

Compensation

Compensation can help families deal with the consequences of the fracture. When you file for compensation, you can cover medical expenses, rehabilitation services, medical devices, lost wages if you took time off to care for the injured person, and pain and suffering.

A professional can help you document the damages and present evidence to maximize the compensation. 

Advocacy

A lawyer can also advocate for residents’ rights and ensure they receive appropriate care. They can investigate issues that led to the fracture and ensure the facility meets all care standards according to federal and state regulations. These legal professionals can also advocate for better rehabilitation and treatment options. 

Secure Expert Legal Representation! 

Broken femurs are serious injuries that pose a significant danger to nursing home residents, potentially leading to infections, limited mobility, and even sepsis and death in the most severe cases.

If you have concerns about the facility your loved one is in, contact the Nursing Home Law Center for legal help. We are dedicated to connecting victims and families with lawyers specializing in nursing home abuse and neglect.

Call us at (800) 926-7565 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. 

FAQs

What types of femur fractures are there?

There are several types of femur fractures, some of which are more severe than others:

• Transverse fracture – The force broke the femur straight across the femur shaft in a horizontal line.
• Comminuted fracture – In this case, the bone has broken into three or more pieces.
• Oblique fracture –  The femur break is an angled line across the shaft.
• Spiral fracture – Spiral fractures encircle the shaft. This break often happens when the leg is twisted. 
• Open fracture – An open or compound fracture involves broken bone fragments sticking through the skin. In other cases, the wound is so deep that it reveals the bone. This type of femoral shaft fracture will most likely lead to complications, especially infections. 

How is a femoral shaft fracture diagnosed?

Diagnosis often includes:

• Physical exam to evaluate the injured leg and look for visible deformity or instability;
• X-ray to confirm the fracture and identify the break pattern;
• CT scan, when doctors need a more detailed view of the fracture or surrounding structures;
• Assessment for related damage, depending on where the fracture occurred. 

In nursing home cases, the diagnostic issue is not just what the hospital found. We also look at what the facility did before the resident reached the hospital. If the signs of a fractured femur were already there, the question becomes whether the staff acted fast enough and whether the injury itself could have been prevented.

What is external fixation surgery?

External fixation is a procedure used to stabilize a broken femur with metal pins or bolts placed into the bone and connected to a frame outside the leg. Doctors may use it when the fracture needs to be held in place right away, often before more definitive surgery.

The procedure is done under anesthesia. Surgeons place pins or bolts into the bone above and below the fracture. Those pins connect to rods and an external frame outside the body. The frame helps hold the broken sections in proper alignment while the femur heals or until further surgery is performed.

How long does it take for femur shaft fracture to heal properly?

A broken femur often takes four to six months to heal, though full recovery can take longer in elderly nursing home residents. The natural healing process generally follows these stages:

• Days 1 to 5: Blood collects around the fracture and forms a hematoma. The body begins clearing damaged tissue and starting the healing response.
• Days 5 to 11: Soft tissue and early new bone begin forming around the break to connect the fractured sections.
• Days 11 to 28: That early healing structure hardens as more bone develops.
• After the first month: The bone continues remodeling over time, gradually becoming stronger, though recovery may last months or longer depending on the resident’s age, health, and mobility.

This extreme response can cause widespread inflammation, leading to organ failure and, in severe cases, death. Even more alarming, it doesn’t take long to die from sepsis once you reach the advanced stages.

The Connection Between Broken Bones and Sepsis

When a bone breaks, especially in severe cases or open fractures where the bone pierces the skin, there’s a higher risk of infection. Infections typically occur after traumatic injuries as bacteria enter the wound, especially in the case of open fractures. 

However, patients can develop sepsis when the body has an extreme response to the infection. 

Open Fractures and Infection Risk

An open fracture, or compound fracture, happens when a bone breaks through the skin. It can occur when bone fragments stick outside the skin or the wound is so deep that it reveals the bone underneath the soft tissues.

This creates a direct pathway for bacteria to enter the bloodstream, which increases the risk of infection and post-traumatic sepsis. 

Surgical Site Infections

A compound fracture is a surgical emergency requiring surgeons to clean out as much contamination as possible from the wound, including dirt and bone fragments. 

However, even with sterilized tools and clean environments, infections can develop in the tissue around the surgical area during or after the surgery. 

If the contamination spreads from the infected tissue to other areas of the body and it’s not treated on time, it can lead to postoperative sepsis. This is also why patients usually receive preventative antibiotics before orthopedic surgery.

Risk Factors for Infection

Nursing home residents with broken bones are at higher risk of infection when the following factors are involved:

• Chronic diseases – Illnesses such as diabetes may slow down wound healing, which is especially dangerous when the wound penetrates deep into the tissue. The longer a wound takes to heal, the higher the risk of infection.
• Poor wound care – This involves poor wound cleaning, which can lead to infection. An infected wound may be red, painful, swollen, and draining pus.
• Weakened immune system – Chemotherapy, medications, or underlying illnesses weaken the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight infections.
• Poor nutrition – If the body lacks nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, trauma patients will have a more challenging time healing.
• Smoking – Smoking slows down wound healing and weakens the person’s immunity. 
• Existing infections – Existing infections such as pulmonary or urinary tract infections can strain the immune system, making it less effective.

Recognizing Signs and Symptoms of Sepsis

Nursing home staff must pay close attention to residents with fractured bones to notice ongoing problems on time and prevent them from becoming worse. 

Common early symptoms of sepsis include:

• Fever and hypothermia – Body temperature that is too high or low, often accompanied by shaking and chills.
• Rapid heart rate – The heart beats faster to deliver oxygen to organs struggling due to sepsis.
• Confusion – Confusion, agitation, or an altered mental state. 
• Hyperventilation – Shortness of breath or rapid breathing. 

Specific Symptoms Related to Bone Infections

The symptoms of a bone infection may be localized, including redness, swelling, warmth, increased pain around the fracture site, and difficulty moving the infected limb. Pus can also drain from the wound.

If the infection isn’t noticed and treated quickly, the person may suffer complications, including sepsis. 

Importance of Prompt Medical Attention

Any sign of sepsis after a fracture is a serious medical emergency. Early diagnosis and treatment can save lives and prevent more severe immune responses as sepsis progresses rapidly.

A bone infection can lead to more severe infection, sepsis, and septic shock if not successfully treated. This is highly dangerous, as septic shock can cause death in as little as 12 hours.

Nursing Home Residents and Increased Risk of Sepsis

A broken bone can be more dangerous for an elderly person, especially if they are in a nursing home. Not only are they at greater risk of sepsis due to their age, but also because they live in close quarters with other residents, which increases the risk of spreading infections. 

Vulnerability of Elderly

Older adults, especially those living in nursing homes, are more susceptible to infections and sepsis. Adults over the age of 65 are 13 times more likely to need hospitalization due to sepsis. [1] Older adults are more likely to have one or more risk factors:

• Weakened immune function
• Catheters, IVs, and breathing tubes
• Other infections
• Underlying health conditions
• More likely to need hospital admission, risking a healthcare-acquired infection 

Challenges in Recognizing Sepsis in the Elderly

Diagnosing sepsis in older adults is difficult because their symptoms can be more subtle and often hidden by other health problems. In other words, classic signs of sepsis in younger individuals may not be present in nursing home residents with sepsis.

For example, more common symptoms in older adults may include lethargy, rapid breathing, loss of appetite, dehydration, weakness, dizziness, falls, and incontinence. Also, they might only have a mild temperature change or hypothermia instead of having a high fever. 

What makes timely diagnosis even more challenging is that many of these symptoms overlap with symptoms of underlying illnesses that are common in older adults, especially heart disease and dementia. 

Importance of Vigilance and Timely Intervention

Nursing home staff must monitor residents with broken bones to prevent infection from developing or worsening and turning into sepsis. They are also obligated to immediately notify the resident’s physician about any possible infection. 

Since sepsis progresses fast, noticing the signs early can prevent patients from developing severe sepsis and suffering complications. In some cases, septic patients may need to have the infected limb amputated, or their risk for future infections increases. 

Timely intervention is key, as sepsis-related mortality rates range between 30% and 40% once the patient is in septic shock. [2]

Legal Implications of Sepsis from Bone Breaks in Nursing Homes

A nursing home resident developing sepsis after a fracture may be a sign of improper care or negligence. If the nursing home fails to comply with care standards and regulations, it may face legal consequences.

Nursing Home Negligence

Negligence occurs when someone fails to provide reasonable care, leading to harm. 

If a nursing home fails to prevent, treat, or report infections in a resident with a broken bone, it may be considered negligent. This means you can file a legal claim against the home, seek compensation, and pressure the facility to improve its standard of care.

Here are some examples of negligent behavior:

• Failure to clean or dress a wound properly
• Failure to recognize the signs of infection
• Poor hygiene of the wound 
• Failure to administer antibiotic therapy according to standards
• Failure to report a suspected infection 

Proving Negligence

To file a claim against the nursing home, you must prove its negligence. To do that, you must prove the following four elements of negligence:

• Duty of care – The nursing home had a legal obligation to provide a reasonable standard of care. 
• Breach of duty – The nursing home failed to meet the expected standard of care. For example, it failed to treat the wound, monitor for signs of infection, made medication errors, or failed to contact a physician on time. 
• Causation – You must show that the breach of duty directly caused harm or damages to the resident. In other words, there must be a clear link between the facility’s actions or inactions and the damages the resident suffered.
• Damages – The fourth element of proving negligence is damages. Damages include medical expenses, pain and suffering, harm to the resident’s health, and, in severe cases, death. 

Seeking Compensation for Damages

If a family member developed sepsis after a broken bone or another traumatic event in a nursing home due to the facility’s negligence, you may have the right to seek compensation. 

Compensation may cover various losses, including medical expenses related to treating the infection and sepsis, hospital stays, medications, and ongoing care. Beyond the financial costs, families may also seek compensation for pain and suffering, recognizing the emotional and physical distress that the resident endured due to the negligence.

In the most tragic situations, where sepsis leads to death, families can file wrongful death claims. In wrongful death claims, families seek compensation for medical costs, the emotional toll of losing a loved one, funeral expenses, and the loss of companionship and support.

Secure Expert Legal Representation

If you have any reason to suspect your loved one developed sepsis due to their nursing home’s negligence, we can help you investigate the case and file a compensation claim.

A nursing home abuse and negligence lawyer can guide you through the process and ensure you understand your rights. Lastly, holding the nursing home accountable can force it to improve its care and protect future residents from the same pain. 

The Nursing Home Law Center is an organization dedicated to protecting the rights of older adults, with a network of experienced, dedicated attorneys. Contact us online for a free consultation, and an attorney will contact you within one day. If you need immediate help, call us at (800) 926-7565. You don’t need to pay a fee unless the lawyer wins your case. 

References: [1] Sepsis.org, [2] Mayo Clinic