Broken Bones in Nursing Homes
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This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Terry Crouppen who has more than 40 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
- Last Modified:
- September 2, 2024
When older adults require full-time care, families often entrust their loved ones to nursing homes, expecting safety and attentive care. However, each year, tens of thousands of nursing home residents suffer broken and fractured bones.
These injuries are invariably caused by an impact that the bone could not withstand. Such impacts can result from falls and other accidents. Tragically, however, nursing home abuse, assault, and neglect are among the root causes underlying many of these injuries.
Our leading personal injury law firm is dedicated to seeking justice for families affected by these incidents. If you or a loved one has suffered a broken bone while residing in a nursing home, let our award-winning attorneys advocate for you. We specialize in uncovering the truth, starting with the critical question: “How could this have happened?” Call (800) 536-4357 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
Risk Factors for Nursing Home Broken Bones
Nursing home residents are often particularly vulnerable to injuries due to various medical conditions that increase their risk of falls and accidents. Common conditions include:
- Thyroid, nerve, or circulatory disorders – These can cause balance issues, raising the risk of falls.
- Impaired hearing, vision, and reflexes – These impairments make it more difficult to avoid hazards and injuries.
- Dementia or cognitive impairment – These conditions significantly increase the likelihood of falls and other accidents, in addition to making residents more vulnerable to abuse.
- Osteoporosis – This condition reduces bone density and strength, often remaining undetected until a break or fracture occurs in an accident.
Additionally, medication side effects can cause dizziness and falls. Because nursing home residents often take multiple medications, the risk of adverse side effects and interactions is exceptionally high.
Safety hazards within nursing homes further increase the risk of broken bones, especially if the facility systematically fails to address these issues. Simple hazards like poorly fitted footwear or cracked flooring can cause a vulnerable elder to lose their balance.
Sadly, not all broken bones in nursing homes are accidental. According to the World Health Organization, two-thirds of staff members in institutional settings worldwide reported elder abuse within a single year. This harrowing statistic underscores the need for ongoing vigilance and advocacy for the safety and well-being of nursing home residents.
Get started with a free consultation with one of our skilled Personal Injury Lawyers today.
Types of Bone Fractures
Some of the most common bone fractures among elderly adults include:
- Traumatic Fractures – These occur due to sudden or extreme force, such as in a crush injury or fall. Nursing homes have a responsibility to adequately monitor residents to prevent accidents that can cause such fractures. A traumatic bone fracture or break with an unknown cause requires thorough investigation.
- Stress Fractures – These are small bone breaks due to overuse and are commonly found in the feet and legs. They can be so minor that the patient may not initially be aware of their injury. Without adequate monitoring, or if nursing home staff miss signs of injury like swelling or pain, a stress fracture can severely worsen.
- Compression Fractures – These occur in the vertebrae, causing the spine to bend and resulting in a hunched posture. They are common in individuals with osteoporosis and may not be immediately noticeable. Unfortunately, some nursing home staff may intentionally mislabel a traumatic fracture as a compression fracture to avoid liability.
In our many years working with Missouri families with loved ones in nursing homes, we have seen many broken bones resulting from nursing home abuse and neglect, including:
- Hand and wrist fractures
- Arm or leg fractures
- Vertebral fractures
- Rib fractures
- Ankle or foot fractures
- Skull fractures
- Hip and pelvis fractures
Though some breaks are more risky than others, any of these fractures can lead to serious consequences, such as sepsis and even wrongful death. You may be able to sue a nursing home for sepsis from a broken or fractured bone, as well as other injury-related pain and suffering. Do not wait to seek legal representation as soon as possible.
Fractured and Broken Hips in Nursing Homes
Broken hips are some of the most common and most dangerous injuries in nursing home residents. To illustrate, consider the following statistics:
- Falls cause the majority of hip fractures in older adults.
- Compared to community-dwelling residents, nursing home residents are twice as likely to experience a fall.
- During an average follow-up of 1.8 years, 3.3 percent of long-term nursing home residents experience hip fractures in 21 months.
- One-third of nursing home residents die within 180 days after a hip fracture. The number rises to 50 percent for male residents.
Because broken hips in nursing homes are so common and severe, loved ones should carefully monitor for any signs of injury. If you notice any unexplained injuries or pain, including hip and pelvic pain, contact an attorney to discuss your legal options.
Unexplained Broken Bones in Nursing Homes: When the Cause Is 'Unknown'
Unfortunately, many broken bone injuries in nursing homes are unreported or unexplained. Residents may be unable or unwilling to speak up about their injuries, and facilities often have an incentive to conceal the truth. Fearing liability, nursing homes may claim ignorance or attribute the injury to “brittle bones.” In reality, the injury could have resulted from an unsupervised fall, rough handling, or even a staff member dropping the resident and failing to report the incident.
In our experience, nursing homes rarely disclose the full story, leaving residents to suffer the consequences. In handling nursing home fall lawsuits in Missouri, we have seen numerous cases where families only became aware of their loved ones’ suffering after noticing signs of pain or bruising.
These silent struggles highlight the need for vigilance and advocacy to ensure the safety and well-being of nursing home residents. If your loved one suffered a fractured or broken bone in a nursing home, it’s crucial to seek answers. Contact us online or call (800) 536-4357 to speak with one of our dedicated broken bone attorneys.
“When it comes to a nursing home case, it is essential that the entire family be involved to get that case across the finish line. This can be challenging because a lot of times they’re embarrassed to call a lawyer about something that happened to their father or their mother in a nursing home . . . For the jury to truly understand what a victim’s damages mean, they need to hear from the family. The family needs to be able to say, ‘This is what my mother was able to do before this neglect, and now she’s a shell of herself—and it’s because of the negligence of the people that were hired and paid handsomely to take care of her.’ Family involvement is key.”
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Red Flags
For many of our clients in nursing home cases, the path to justice starts with a loved one noticing signs of abuse or neglect. Those signs may include:
- Wounds or fractures in different stages of healing – These may indicate frequent injury and a lack of appropriate care.
- Unexplained bruises, scrapes, or welts – If residents seem unwilling or unable to describe an injury, they may be experiencing abuse and intimidation.
- Broken glasses or ripped clothing – These may be signs of a fall or physical altercation.
- Changes in behavior – Victims of elder abuse are often easily agitated, withdrawn, depressed, or unusually vigilant.
You have the right to file a report if you notice any warning signs. If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect, reporting your suspicions can help protect your loved one and others who may be at risk.
To report a nursing home to state authorities in Missouri, contact the Missouri Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline at (800) 392-0210. This hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Liability for Broken Bones in Nursing Homes: Who Is Responsible?
Families entrust their loved ones to nursing homes with the expectation that staff will provide compassionate, dignified, and responsible care. Every nursing home has a duty to meet these expectations.
Staff members are responsible for vigilantly monitoring residents and ensuring their well-being. They must do so by upholding the minimum standard of care. Among other things, nursing homes must ensure adequate staffing levels, comprehensive training, and the necessary support for caregivers to perform their duties effectively. If a resident suffers an injury, both nursing homes and their staff can potentially be held liable.
How To Secure Compensation for Broken Bones in Nursing Homes
If your loved one suffered a fractured or broken bone due to nursing home negligence or abuse, you have the right to take legal action. Legal compensation can assist you and your family in coping with the emotional, financial, and medical consequences. With over $1 billion secured in high-value case results for our clients, including millions for victims of nursing home abuse and neglect, we have the experience needed to assess your situation and guide you through the next steps.
You can count on our knowledgeable and compassionate legal team to support you and your loved one throughout the life of your claim. Call (800) 536-4357 or contact us online to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.
Sources
- Berry, S. D., Lee, Y., Zullo, A. R., Kiel, D. P., Dosa, D., & Mor, V. (2016, September). Incidence of hip fracture in U.S. nursing homes. The Journals of Gerontology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4978364/
- Compression fractures. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2024a, May 10). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/compression-fractures
- Compression fractures. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2024b, May 10). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/compression-fractures
- Díez, R., Cadenas, R., Susperregui, J., Sahagún, A. M., Fernández, N., García, J. J., Sierra, M., & López, C. (2022, April 4). Drug-related problems and polypharmacy in nursing home residents: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8998432/
- National Institute on Aging. (2022, September 12). Falls and fractures in older adults: Causes and prevention. National Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/falls-and-falls-prevention/falls-and-fractures-older-adults-causes-and-prevention
- Red Flags of Elder Abuse. Elder Justice Initiative (EJI). (2023, November 7). https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/red-flags-elder-abuse
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023, September 25). Osteoporosis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/osteoporosis
- World Health Organization. (2024, June 15). Abuse of older people. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abuse-of-older-people
- Yang, Y., Komisar, V., Shishov, N., Lo, B., Korall, A. M., Feldman, F., & Robinovitch, S. N. (2020, October). The effect of fall biomechanics on risk for hip fracture in older adults: A cohort study of video-captured falls in long-term care. The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7689902/
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