What to Do If Your Loved One Falls in a Nursing Home

What to Do If Your Loved One Falls in a Nursing Home

A fall in a nursing home is often more than a minor accident. It may be a signal that something is wrong with the quality of care your loved one is receiving. If your parent or relative has suffered a nursing home fall injury, you may be feeling anxious, angry, or even helpless. 

Falls are one of the most common and preventable injuries in long-term care. When they happen, they can lead to serious consequences like hip fractures, traumatic brain injuries, or even death. All too often, they result from staff negligence, poor supervision, or failure to follow care protocols.

If your loved one was injured in a nursing home fall, it’s natural to have questions and concerns. You may be wondering what steps to take, how to protect their well-being, and whether the incident could have been prevented. Speaking with a nursing home negligence lawyer can help you understand your options, gather important evidence, and take appropriate action if the facility is at fault.

Get a free consultation

Key Takeaways for Nursing Home Falls

• Fall prevention is a legal and ethical responsibility of every long-term care facility.
• Nursing home falls are often signs of poor care, lack of supervision, or unsafe conditions.
• Immediate medical care and incident documentation are critical after a fall.
• Families should ask questions, review records, and watch for warning signs of neglect.
• A nursing home negligence lawyer can investigate whether the fall was preventable and help you pursue legal options.

How Common Are Falls in Nursing Homes?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1,800 older adults die each year from falls in nursing homes, and many more suffer disabling injuries. These numbers are especially concerning because most falls in care facilities are entirely preventable.

Nursing homes are legally required to assess fall risk and implement safety plans. This includes evaluating medical history, medications, balance issues, and mobility needs. When facilities fail to do this, residents may end up suffering life-altering harm.

Nursing Home Fall Injury Risks

Falls can have devastating consequences for elderly residents, especially those already living with fragile health. Even a single misstep may lead to permanent loss of mobility or independence. Common fall-related injuries include:

• Hip fractures that often require surgery and lead to long-term immobility
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from head impact
• Internal bleeding that may go undetected in the early hours
• Spinal injuries resulting in chronic pain or paralysis
• Infections such as sepsis, often following surgery or bed rest

Beyond physical harm, residents may experience fear, depression, and anxiety after a fall. These emotional consequences often go unaddressed but are just as important to recognize.

Is a Nursing Home Fall Always a Sign of Negligence?

Not every fall is caused by neglect. Some may happen despite proper care, especially for residents with high medical risks. However, repeated falls and falls that occur in unsafe environments are often red flags.

Facilities have a legal duty to:

• Assess each resident’s risk of falling
• Update care plans based on recent health changes
• Provide necessary equipment like bed alarms, walkers, or grab bars
• Respond promptly to calls for assistance
• Monitor residents with dementia or balance issues

If a nursing home fails to do any of these things, and a fall occurs, that may indicate negligence. A nursing home negligence lawyer can help evaluate whether the facility breached its duty of care.

Warning Signs That a Nursing Home Fall Was Preventable

After a fall, you may hear explanations like “she was getting up on her own” or “he tripped while walking.” These may be true, but sometimes they’re used to hide staffing problems, poor supervision, and inadequate or improper training.

Here are signs that the fall may have been avoidable:

• No fall prevention plan in the resident’s file
• Inconsistent staff reports about how the fall happened
• No witness present when the fall occurred
• Frequent prior falls without changes to the care plan
• Unattended residents left in hallways or bathrooms
• No safety equipment in place, such as side rails or bed alarms

If any of these apply, you may want to investigate further. Even one fall can reveal broader safety issues that put other residents at risk too.

How Facilities Try to Avoid Responsibility for Falls

Nursing homes may be quick to minimize or deflect blame after a resident falls. They might describe it as an accident, claim the resident was “noncompliant,” or insist that injuries were unrelated to the fall.

Some common tactics include:

• Delaying incident reports or not reporting the fall at all
• Blaming the resident for wandering or getting up without help
• Changing or revising notes in medical records
• Failing to notify family for hours or days later

If any of this sounds familiar, it’s a sign that you should consult a lawyer. A nursing home negligence lawyer can help uncover what really happened and whether protocols were violated.

Establishing Negligence and Liability for a Nursing Home Fall Injury

When a resident falls, responsibility depends on whether the facility took reasonable steps to prevent it. Nursing homes are not automatically liable for every injury, but they can be held accountable if the fall was caused by unsafe conditions or failure to follow care standards.

To establish liability, your case needs to show:

• The facility had a duty to protect the resident from harm
• It failed to meet that duty through action or inaction
• That failure directly led to the fall
• The resident suffered physical or emotional harm as a result

These cases are highly fact-specific. A nursing home negligence lawyer can assess staffing levels, care protocols, and whether the facility complied with federal and state regulations.

Federal and State Standards for Nursing Home Fall Prevention

Facilities that accept Medicare and Medicaid funding must follow federal regulations under the Nursing Home Reform Act. These include:

• Conducting initial and ongoing fall risk assessments
• Creating personalized care plans
• Using assistive devices and alarms when appropriate
• Ensuring safe living environments

States add their own rules on top of these. For example, in California, the California Code of Regulations, Title 22 requires licensed facilities to maintain staffing and supervision levels that protect residents from injury.

When a nursing home fails to meet these obligations, and a fall results, they may be liable under both federal and state law.

How to Document and Report a Nursing Home Fall

If you believe a fall may have been preventable, proper documentation is key. Even if you’re not ready to take legal action, keeping a record of what happened can help ensure your loved one’s safety and create a timeline of care.

Key steps for documenting a nursing home fall

• Write down the date, time, and description of the fall as told by the facility
• Ask for a copy of the facility’s internal incident report
• Take photos of injuries (with consent) and any hazards in the room
• Request medical records related to the fall and follow-up care
• Keep notes on your conversations with staff, including names and dates

Once you have this information, consider reporting the incident to state authorities. In California, families can contact the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) or the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.

You can also file a complaint with Adult Protective Services (APS) if you suspect abuse or neglect contributed to the fall.

When to Contact a Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer

Not every fall leads to legal action. But if your loved one suffered serious harm, or if the facility seems evasive, it may be time to speak with an attorney.

Here are situations when legal help is especially important:

• The fall caused a serious injury like a fracture or brain trauma
• The facility refuses to provide records or delays access
• There were no staff present during the fall
• The care plan wasn’t updated after a previous fall
• You notice signs of neglect within the facility
• You suspect staff neglect or abuse played a role

A nursing home negligence lawyer can step in to investigate, preserve evidence, and explain your legal options. They can also bring in medical experts to review care standards and determine whether the facility failed to meet them.

Emotional Toll on Families

Falls don’t just harm the residents. They shake entire families. You may find yourself questioning whether you made the right choice or whether you missed warning signs earlier. Many families report feeling:

• Guilt for placing their loved one in a facility
• Anger at staff who dismissed concerns
• Fear that another fall could happen
• Confusion over what rights they have

These reactions are common. When handled by the right team, the legal process can give families a way to reclaim peace of mind knowing that those responsible are held accountable. You’re not wrong for asking questions or demanding better care.

Frequently Asked Questions for Nursing Home Fall Injury

Getting Help from Lawyers Who Know How to Handle Nursing Home Fall Cases

If your loved one suffered a serious fall in a nursing home, you don’t have to manage the situation by yourself. Falls can leave residents with lasting injuries and families with more questions than answers. What happened, why, and could it have been prevented?

At Greenslade Cronk, we help families in Los Angeles and throughout California uncover the truth. We put our energy and resources into managing complex, high-value litigation. Many other firms turn to us to handle cases that require serious trial skill and staying power.

Call (323) 747-7474 or contact us online for a free and confidential consultation. You’ll speak directly with an attorney who understands these cases and will walk you through every step forward.

Get a free consultation