When you leave your loved one in a New Mexico nursing home, you want to feel confident that someone is looking out for him or her and making efforts to reduce any hazards that could potentially lead to injury. Regrettably, however, today’s older Americans are falling and injuring themselves at alarming rates, and many residents who suffer serious falls live in a nursing home or assisted living facility environments. At the Harvey, Foote & Baker Law Firm, we understand that when older people fall, serious injuries often result, and we have helped many people who suffered injury or hardship because of nursing home negligence pursue appropriate recourse.
The National Council on Aging reports that falls have become so common among older Americans that they are now the leading cause of fatal injury and hospital admissions for adults ages 65 and older. Furthermore, an older American dies because of a fall every 19 minutes in America, accounting for more than 27,000 deaths each year.
In addition to causing your loved one physical hardship, a slip-and-fall accident can take an emotional toll on older Americans and can, in some cases, cause them to increasingly withdraw from their loved ones and society. Falls can also lead to feelings of depression and isolation among older populations, and some nursing homes and assisted living facilities may do little to combat the negative side effects associated with falls.
When you have a loved one living in a nursing home or continuing care facility, chances are, you trust his or her caretakers to exercise caution and have fall prevention programs in place to prevent your loved one from getting hurt. If you have concerns about the quality of care your loved one is receiving, it may prove wise to voice them sooner than later. You can find out more about nursing home injuries by visiting our webpage.