Preventing nursing home injuries from falls
Nursing homes in California should be a safe space for your loved ones to live after serious health matters or towards the end of their lives. Most residents in these homes are at least 70 if not over 100 years of age or young people with disabilities. Sometimes, unfortunately, preventable nursing home injuries do occur, including falls. These can prove to be very dangerous, but there are steps to prevent these falls.
Injuries from falls
Falls are even more dangerous to people who are elderly, disabled, or are on certain medications such as blood thinners. If an elderly individual is on a blood thinner and falls, he or she may face significant bruising and even internal bleeding. Falls by themselves, however, can also lead to broken bones, fractures, head or brain injuries. This can compound health problems for the resident and lead to infection.
Risk factors for falls
There are certain factors that may lead to a fall. They are all preventable, however, when taking the right steps. They include:
- Cognitive and mental impairment
- Previous falls
- Someone who wanders
- Disease progression
- High potassium that leads to balance issues
- Misuse of an assistive device like a cane or walker
How to prevent falls
Create more engaging activities for residents who wander or who have cognitive impairment to keep their minds active. You can also encourage the use of an assistive device such as a walker. If someone has disease progression, monitor his or her well-being and assist him or her in going to activities or to other areas of the nursing home. Provide proper staffing to monitor and assist the resident. Following these steps will help prevent harmful nursing home injuries.