Unfortunately, falls are a common risk in hospitals and nursing homes. Elderly patients and residents face the risk of falling in a variety of situations – which can be related to medical malpractice and negligence in some cases. Because of this, it’s important to understand why these accidents happen so you can aid in the prevention of your elderly loved one falling.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 3 million elderly people are treated in emergency rooms every year for fall-related injuries. Below you’ll find additional facts and statistics regarding falls in hospitals and nursing homes.
- One in five falls results in serious injuries like broken bones or head injuries.
- Over 800,000 patients are hospitalized every year to treat fall injuries.
- Between 50 percent and 75 percent of elderly patients suffer from nursing home falls each year.
- Between 16 and 27 percent of nursing home falls occur due to environmental hazards, like inadequate lighting or slippery floors.
- Approximately 1,800 elders die each year as a result of a traumatic fall.
- In 2015, the medical costs associated with falls totaled more than $50 billion.
With those statistics in mind, let’s take a look at why these falling happen in hospitals and nursing homes.