nursing home patient rights?

Question

Is it not the nursing homes responsibility to notify family members if a patient falls while at their facility?

Answer 1

I used to be a bank trust officer responsible for a number of elderly patients who did not have family or children living locally. I used to get frequent telephone calls about falls of clients at various facilities.

Falling can be a sign of other health problems. People in nursing homes are generally more frail than older adults living in the community. They tend to be older, have more chronic illnesses, and have difficulty walking. They also tend to have problems with thinking or memory, to have difficulty with activities of daily living, and to need help getting around or taking care of themselves.

The law requires nursing home residents to receive adequate supervision and assistive devices to prevent accidents. When a resident enters a nursing home, a plan of care must be developed. Within this plan of care, the resident's risk of falling must be assessed to determine what assistance the person may need to get around.

There are a variety of reasons why a nursing home resident might fall, including weakness and gait problems associated with old age. Unfortunately, however, many nursing home residents fall because of the nursing home's negligence . Examples include falls caused by:

* Wet floors
* Poor lighting
* Lack of necessary bedrails and improper bed height
* Improperly maintained or fitted wheelchairs
* Clutter
* Medications, especially psychoactive drugs
* Difficulty in moving patients, or assisting them to the restroom, due to understaffing
* Failure to have sufficient staff to answer call buttons
* Failure to have call buttons that are in proper working condition
* Failure to properly train staff in lifting and handling techniques
* Failure of the staff to adequately supervise residents
* Poor foot care
* Restraints
* Weakness and gait problems associated with malnutrition and/or dehydration

RECOMMENDATION: An alert family member needs to be aware of falls at nursing homes. It is your loved one who is there. Most homes are professional and make every effort to provide good services. However, if you feel that your loved one is not receiveing adequate care, request a conference with the administrator and head of the nursing staff there.

Answer 2

The nursing home has to do a report on any known fall, and normally have committe to see what can be done to help prevent future falls. Since falls is often just a normal part of a patients stay, esp since they can no longer be restrained, But no, notification is not always a requirement, you should check with the home, but they will have records that are viewable.

Answer 3

My aunt is in a nursing home and when ever something goes on it is their resonsibilty to let the responsible party, patient advocate or power of attorney know. This is by law, and must be followed. She has had a few incidents and we usually find out about them almost immediatly. I suggest if something is going on and you have to find out on your own, you should move them or have an intervention.