If you fall down, you could deal with many hardships afterward, especially as an older adult. It is essential to understand the risks that you face with respect to these accidents, and you should also focus on the different ways in which a fall could turn your life upside down.
Regrettably, many older adults find themselves in this position each year.
Risk factors for older adult falls
The National Institute on Aging recently published information on older adult falls. According to the NIA, those 65 and older face a number of risk factors that increase the likelihood of a fall, and the impact of these accidents often has an especially devastating impact on victims. Some older adults become particularly vulnerable as a result of age-related declines regarding vision, reflexes and hearing. Also, health conditions can affect balance and some medications can lead to dizziness.
Many older adults fall down due to safety hazards such as wet floors, uneven steps, clutter and ice. Unfortunately, some of these accidents occur due to the negligence of a property owner or business owner.
The aftermath of an older adult fall
In the wake of a fall, you could face various challenges as an older adult. You could suffer a serious injury, such as a broken bone, and this could lead to more significant complications. An accident could leave you unable to live independently and you could become permanently disabled. It is also important to understand the financial impact of falls. From lost income to medical costs and rehabilitation, these accidents can become very expensive.
What injuries are most common when older adults fall?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of injury among adults 65 and older, and more than one in four older adults falls each year. The most serious injuries include:
- Hip fractures. Nearly all hip fractures in older adults are caused by falls, and recovery often means surgery, a hospital stay, and months of rehabilitation.
- Head injuries. Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury, and the risk is higher for people who take blood thinners. Learn more about living with the effects of a traumatic brain injury.
- Other fractures and spinal injuries. Broken wrists, arms, and pelvises are common, and a fall can also injure the spine. See our page on brain and spinal cord injuries.
For an older adult, the injury is often only the beginning. A long recovery can bring complications such as pneumonia, blood clots, and a lasting loss of mobility and independence.
When is a property owner responsible for a fall?
Property owners and businesses have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe. When they know about a hazard, or should have known about it, they are expected to fix it or warn visitors. A fall may be the basis of a premises liability claim when it is caused by hazards such as:
- Wet or freshly mopped floors with no warning sign
- Broken or uneven sidewalks, steps, or parking lots
- Poor lighting in stairwells, hallways, or parking areas
- Missing or loose handrails
- Ice and snow that were not cleared or treated
- Clutter, cords, or merchandise left in walkways
Can a nursing home be responsible for a resident’s fall?
Yes, when the fall results from neglect. Nursing homes are expected to assess each resident’s risk of falling and take reasonable steps to prevent falls. That can include supervision, help getting out of bed and to the restroom, bed and chair alarms, non-slip footwear, clear walkways, and a careful review of medications that cause dizziness. Repeated falls, injuries staff cannot explain, or a delay in getting medical care after a fall can all be signs of nursing home neglect. Falls also happen in hospitals, where they are among the common hospital errors that can lead to a claim.
Can medications make a fall more likely?
Yes. Sleep aids, sedatives, some blood pressure medications, and certain antidepressants can cause dizziness or unsteadiness, and the risk grows when an older adult takes several medications at once. A wrong dose makes it worse, which is why accurate prescribing and monitoring matter. Our article on how weight errors lead to wrong medicine doses explains one way dosage mistakes happen.
What should I do after an older adult falls?
Get a medical evaluation, even if the person seems fine, because some injuries, especially head injuries in people on blood thinners, may not show symptoms right away. Then:
- Report the fall to the property owner, business, or facility, and ask for a copy of the incident report.
- Photograph the hazard and the area where the fall happened, as soon as possible.
- Write down the names and contact information of anyone who saw the fall.
- Keep medical records and bills, and track time missed from work or care costs. These can support a claim for medical bills and lost wages.
- Speak with an attorney before giving a recorded statement to an insurance company.
Frequently Asked Questions
My parent fell in a nursing home. How do I know if it was neglect?
Not every fall is neglect. The key questions are whether the facility assessed your parent’s fall risk, whether it followed the care plan, whether staff were supervising as they should have been, and how quickly your parent received care afterward. The facility’s own records usually hold the answers, which is why it helps to have an attorney request them.
Can we still bring a claim if my loved one was partly at fault?
Often, yes. Being partly responsible for a fall does not automatically prevent a claim, though it can affect the amount recovered. Learn more about what happens when you are partly at fault for your accident.
What does it cost to talk with Glass & Tabor?
The initial consultation is free. It gives you a chance to tell us what happened and ask your questions, and it helps both of us decide whether the firm is the right fit for your situation.
If you or a loved one was hurt in a fall on someone else’s property or in a nursing home, contact Glass & Tabor in Norman, Oklahoma for a free consultation.