Broken bones are a big risk for the elderly. Older people offer suffer from bone loss and osteoporosis, which can make bones more at risk of a break. Broken bones can happen in a fall, or can sometimes occur without trauma, when the bones become weak and brittle. In some cases, broken bones can happen as a result of repetitive motion or overuse.
If your loved one broke a bone in a nursing home, it’s important that the nursing home develop a plan to treat the broken bone. Normally, the bone has to heal, and therapy may be necessary in order to facilitate that healing.
Unfortunately, many nursing homes are understaffed or not managed correctly. The patients’ needs may not come first, which can result in broken bones. In some cases, broken bones are not quickly diagnosed, and the patient can suffer. The actions of nursing home staff can cause bones to break, particularly if the staff are not properly trained or supervised in how to deal with patients.
For most younger people, a bone break will heal and does not impact the rest of that person’s life. For a nursing home resident, bone breaks can produce catastrophic results. The bone break may cause other medical conditions. It may not heal properly, and can greatly decrease the person’s quality of life.
If your loved one has suffered from a broken bone in a nursing home, and you are concerned about whether the nursing home caused or contributed to the broken bone, or you believe the home did not diagnose the broken bone, you should speak with an attorney. The nursing home may have committed negligence. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles nursing home negligence attorney, at 310-385-0567. My team can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.