4 Ways to Prevent Falls in the Nursing Home
f you or a loved one will be staying at a nursing home for the foreseeable future, it’s ideal to ask them about their detailed practices when it comes to fall prevention. Falling in the nursing home is too common today and is the cause of the most serious injuries and potentially death. You may need to get a NY bedsore attorney in Suffolk County involved if your fall resulted from negligence by the nursing home. The good news is many of these falls can be prevented by the nursing home taking proactive measures, which we’ve explained here.
Be Equipped With Devices To Help With Mobility
Mobility for some seniors doesn’t always mean walking down the hallway. Sometimes it simply means getting out of bed to stand up and stretch a bit. The problem with this is some nursing home staff members don’t offer this as an option and won’t provide anything for their patients to brace themselves to maintain stability. As a result, the patient tries to get out of bed on their own, loses their balance, and falls. This is a sign of negligence, and a bedsore lawyer can help, but it can be prevented by having a device ready to assist you in getting out of bed.
Prioritize Exercising
When a senior is confined to a bed most of the day, they can lose muscle strength, balance, coordination, and other things. Relying on a wheelchair to get from one place to the next is convenient, but isn’t good for the patient’s overall health. The nursing home should put into place exercise programs based on a patient’s ability to do them. Even if it means walking down the hall with a walker for 30 minutes each day, it can go a long way in building and maintaining strength.
Wear Appropriate Footwear
Not having appropriate footwear for patients is something a bedsore attorney in Manhattan, NY will identify immediately. Socks may have non-slip bottoms, but those can get worn out over time. It’s always best for patients to wear shoes that fit perfectly and are easy to put on. The extra traction will help them keep their balance a little better and prevent falling and getting injured.
Ask For Assistance Any Time You Need To Move
Patients in a nursing home should always ask for assistance any time they need to leave their bed, or even if they need to reposition themselves in the bed. If the nursing home staff shows any kind of negligence or doesn’t have the desire to help, then you may need to reach out to a bedsore lawyer. The nursing home staff should have your health in their best interests, and if they don’t, then your health could be at risk.
Sinel & Olesen, PLLC works with cases where nursing homes were negligent all the time. Their priority should be to keep their patients safe and prevent them from falling, but injuries from falls are still too common. We are a trusted bedsore lawyer and are ready to represent you and your best interests, so contact us today if you have fallen or are experiencing poor treatment in a nursing home.