Nursing home staff often take well-deserved time off around various holidays such as Labor Day and Thanksgiving. However, staffing shortages at nursing homes during the holidays are a serious problem. Lack of staff has proven to drive an increase in falling accidents in nursing homes which can then lead to a significant number of traumatic brain injuries or TBI. If your loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury at a nursing home seeking legal advice and possibly pursuing a legal claim can help ensure that the nursing home is held responsible for any negligence that contributed to their injury.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
TBI is an umbrella term for any type of injury to the head that affects normal cognitive or physical functioning and it is one of the biggest risks for elderly in long-term care. It is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. A bump or a blow to the head can cause severe brain injuries that can be temporary or last forever.
Why is the Risk of TBIs So High Among Nursing Home Residents?
Nursing home patients who may have limited mobility or suffer from dementia can likely experience a fall. One out of five people fall and either break their bones or injure their heads. Making matters worse, is the
Nursing home staff often take well-deserved time off around various holidays such as Labor Day and Thanksgiving. However, staffing shortages at nursing homes during the holidays are a serious problem. Lack of staff has proven to drive an increase in falling accidents in nursing homes which can then lead to a significant number of traumatic brain injuries or TBI. If your loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury at a nursing home seeking legal advice and possibly pursuing a legal claim can help ensure that the nursing home is held responsible for any negligence that contributed to their injury.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
TBI is an umbrella term for any type of injury to the head that affects normal cognitive or physical functioning and it is one of the biggest risks for elderly in long-term care. It is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. A bump or a blow to the head can cause severe brain injuries that can be temporary or last forever.
Why is the Risk of TBIs So High Among Nursing Home Residents?
Nursing home patients who may have limited mobility or suffer from dementia can likely experience a fall. One out of five people fall and either break their bones or injure their heads. Making matters worse, is the current staffing shortage across nursing homes in Illinois. Without enough workers, especially on nights or weekends, supervision of nursing home residents weakens, leaving room for carelessness by caregivers in the following examples:
- Dropping someone during a bed transfer
- Improperly assisting residents using the bathroom
- Lost residents wandering aimlessly
- Tripping hazards such as wet floors, unlocked wheelchairs, loose wiring
Understand Duty of Care and Negligence
In the state of Illinois, nursing homes bear a paramount duty of care toward their residents. This duty encompasses the responsibility to provide a safe and secure environment, minimizing potential hazards that could lead to injuries. Negligence on the part of a nursing home can manifest when this duty of care is breached, either through inadequate supervision, improper protocols, or failure to address known risks. If a resident sustains an injury due to such negligence, legal recourse may be pursued to hold the nursing home accountable for the harm suffered. It becomes crucial to demonstrate that the injury was a direct result of the facility’s failure to fulfill its duty of care.
Contact a Peoria Nursing Home Lawyer
If a relative suffered a traumatic brain injury at a nursing home, you may find it challenging to decide on an appropriate course of action. At Nursing Home Injury Center we will try to hold those responsible, accountable. A Peoria County nursing home attorney can help to investigate the case and help protect the rights of your loved one. Call 309-524-6900 for a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/data/index.html
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/traumatic-brain-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20378557
