When an elderly person is injured in a nursing home, his or her chances of survival can become slim. If the nursing facility is understaffed or lacks resources, an elderly person may be unable to ever properly heal from his or her injuries. Nursing home workers may not be attuned to the needs of the injured victim. They may fail to notice the development of an infection or other serious health issues.

It is important that you pay attention to the recovery of your loved one in a nursing home. If your loved one has been involved in an accident or fall, you should make sure that the nursing home delivers the care that your loved one requires. Federal and state laws mandate that nursing home residents receive adequate care. Under the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987, nursing home residents have the right to reside in a facility free from abuse, neglect and mistreatment.

Statistics Indicate Poor Survival for Residents with Hip Fractures

Nursing home staff workers have a legal duty to respond to the needs of a resident when he or she has been injured. They must seek to “accommodate” the “medical, physical, psychological and social needs” of patients in a facility under the NHRA. Unfortunately, a recent research study indicated that nursing home residents tend to have a poor survival outcome if they have suffered from hip fractures. It seems that nursing home workers may be failing to live up to their responsibility to deliver quality care. It seems that nursing homes are increasingly finding ways to avoid the extra cost and burden of caring for residents who have suffered hip fractures.

Researchers studied data from Medicare claims from 2005 to 2009. Their analysis of this data indicated that 36 percent of patients died after 180 days with a hip fracture. Over 53 percent of patients with hip fractures suffered new levels of dependence after 180 days with the injury .

Neglect in the Nursing Home

In the majority of hip fracture cases, a patient does not receive the care that he or she needs due to the neglect of nursing home staff workers. These individuals may not be properly trained or able to recognize that a resident has a hip fracture. In some cases, a nursing home may have inadequate staffing levels. A worker may not have time to check up on the needs of a patient with a hip fracture. He or she may downplay the seriousness of the injury.

Family Members Must Step In

Family members need to understand that they play a monumental role in assisting a loved one who has received a hip fracture. Family members may need to intervene to make sure that the loved one receives the care that he or she needs. Nursing home facilities may not take action until a formal complaint has been filed with the authorities. Family members may need to take advantage of online reporting systems to ensure that a complaint involving a loved one is properly handled.

Illinois is one of the first states to implement an online reporting system for the handling of complaints related to elder abuse and neglect. The online reporting system allows family members to instantly file a complaint alleging abuse or neglect with the Illinois Department of Public Health. The IDPH will then investigate the nature of the complaint. The IDPH may send investigators to the nursing home facility to ensure that a loved one receives the care he or she needs.

Conclusion

If your loved one has suffered from an injury in a nursing home, it is important to act fast. Your loved one’s condition may worsen if he or she has received a hip fracture. It is up to you to hold nursing home administrators accountable for the care that your loved one receives. Contact our nursing home abuse lawyers to receive help in filing a formal complaint.

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