Nursing homes are supposed to provide proper care to keep our loved ones safe from harm. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. The family of a man who died while under nursing home care filed a wrongful death lawsuit claiming negligence against the facility. The lawsuit was filed in Cook County against Forest Edge Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center LLC and others stating that they were negligent. The complaint requests damages in an amount greater than $50,000 and a jury trial.
Falls in Nursing Homes
Falls are the most common cause of injury to the elderly. Falls are preventable. Nursing homes must take the proper steps to ensure that they provide a safe environment for all residents. Additionally, they must properly supervise and monitor residents, and aid them when necessary, to prevent falls and other accidents from occurring. The nursing home in this case is blamed for not providing adequate supervision to the resident. The man fell and sustained severe injuries that led to his death.
Inadequate Supervision
One of the reasons we want our elderly loved ones to live in nursing homes is for the supervision they are supposed to provide. In this situation, the claim states that the man fell because he was not adequately supervised. Inadequate supervision may be considered negligence when an accident with injuries occurs. The nursing home may not have enough staff to properly care for patients, the staff may not be trained, or the management may not be sufficient. Regardless of the reasons, the facility must provide care and ensure that injuries do not happen.
Fall Prevention Plan
Nursing homes must give their residents the level of care and support that they require. Once a patient is accepted into a facility, it has a legal obligation to provide proper care. Some residents may be more likely to fall than others. For example, a person on medication may be dizzy, or someone with pain or difficulty walking may be more at risk for falls than others. Every resident should be evaluated and a prevention plan put into place. This will allow all caregivers to understand a patient’s needs and help to avoid accidents, including falls. Falls to the elderly can have negative health consequences, as they did in this case.
Negligence in Health Care
The health care providers failed to properly supervise the resident, and this caused a serious fall that led to the man’s death. The facility is likely negligent because they are required to adequately supervise every person to ensure their safety. The family has filed a lawsuit to obtain damages for the injuries. This may include money for medical care, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. Although nothing can be done to change what happened, the family probably wants to seek justice on behalf of their loved one, and make sure that this type of incident does not happen to anyone else in the future.
If your loved one was hurt or died in a nursing home, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Michael A. Freedman to discuss your case today.
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