Nursing Home Hip Fracture Attorney

Nursing home hip fracture is a common injury among elderly individuals in nursing home care. It occurs most commonly when an individual falls while attempting to transfer independently from a bed to a chair or walker.

Depending on the severity and type of fracture, medical professionals may be required to assess the person's mobility limitations and decide the best course of treatment, including the need for surgery or other interventions such as pain relief medications.

Nursing homes may also have additional policies in place to reduce hip fractures and limit resident falls, such as installing handrails or adding padded flooring.

Did your family member suffer a fractured hip while at a nursing home that was caused by staff abuse or negligence? The personal injury attorneysat Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC have years of experience fighting for the rights of nursing home patients.

Contact our nursing home abuse lawyers at (888) 424-5757 to schedule a free consultation. We understand the complex legal process and how to navigate a lengthy lawsuit involving nursing home neglect and abuse.

National Statistics on Nursing Home Hip Fractures

According to studies conducted over the last ten years, the mobility of a senior in assisted living facilities is linked to their hips. When nursing home patients have suffered from fractures, the joint and surrounding bone and tissue are all affected, resulting in difficulty moving and immense pain if bones grind against one another.

One of the most recommended solutions is a surgical intervention in which the bone or joint is replaced with an implant. While hip surgery is proven to prolong the lives of those who elect to undergo the procedures, conflicting data suggests it is far better for your loved one never to suffer a broken hip injury.

• One-third of assisted living facility elderly patients who suffer from a broken hip die within six months. Females in nursing homes are significantly less likely to suffer this fate than male residents.
• The initial level of dependence seems to affect the prognosis of an elderly resident. Eighty percent of those living independently or at a family member’s home survived over a year following a broken hip. In contrast, half of those in nursing homes died within twelve months.
• Almost thirty percent of intertrochanteric hip fracture survivors are immobile following their injuries and require personal care, including assistance moving from their beds to access restrooms, bathing, and personal hygiene.
• Immobility from a broken hip is linked to the development of additional medical complications that don’t just diminish the quality of the nursing home patient’s living. Broken hips in nursing homes have been proven to shorten patients’ lives due to the medical concerns it creates.
• When patients elect not to undergo hip fracture surgery following a broken hip injury, their quality of living and chance of survival diminish rapidly. Nursing home hip fractures often require surgical intervention to address the medical condition that might always be available due to the patient's health, age, or ability to survive anesthesia.

Common Causes of a Nursing Home Hip Fracture

The hip is a ball and socket joint, one of the largest joints in the body. A broken hip is a severe health issue that requires immediate medical attention, including hip fracture surgery.

Fractured hips may occur due to various reasons including:

Falls

Falls are prevalent among elderly individuals and can happen anywhere, from the shower to the dining room or even while walking down the hallway. Frail residents in a nursing home setting with mobility issues, taking medications that cause dizziness, or other existing medical conditions are at a greater risk of falling and suffering hip fractures than other patients.

Elder Abuse and Neglect

Unfortunately, not all nursing home staff members have the best interests of their residents at heart. In some cases, staff members may deliberately abuse or neglect residents, leading to serious injuries like broken hips, contusions, and other head injuries.

Dehydration

If your senior loved one is not drinking enough fluids, this can lead to several health problems, including broken hips due to weak bones. Encourage them to stay hydrated with plenty of water and other beverages.

Poor Nutrition

Seniors who don't eat a well-balanced diet have a high fall risk, leading to broken hips, head trauma, and physical pain and suffering. Make sure your loved one is eating nutritious foods that will help them maintain strong bones and muscles.

Reduced Mobility

Seniors becoming less mobile can weaken muscles and cause more falls, increasing their risk of broken hips. Help your loved ones improve their mobility by encouraging exercise and physical activity to minimize the common risk factors of falling.

Inadequate Fall Prevention Measures

Nursing homes must follow specific safety standards that help minimize fall risk and broken hips. Proactive measures can include installing handrails in hallways and providing adequate supervision to seniors at a higher risk of falling.

If you suspect your loved one's nursing home is not following these standards, speak to the staff about what you can do to help prevent falls.

While it may seem like broken hips are a normal part of getting older, there are several things you and your loved one can do to reduce their risk.

Contact a healthcare provider for more information about preventing broken hips in nursing homes.

Types of Hip Fractures

Three types of hip fractures that can occur in nursing homes include:

Femoral Fracture

A femoral fracture is the most common type of hip injury and typically occurs when an older person slips, falls to the ground, and lands on their side. The force of the fall can cause the thighbone to break.

Pelvic Fracture

Pelvic fractures are less common but can be just as severe as femoral fractures. These usually occur when a patient falls from a height or is involved in a high-impact car accident.

These injuries typically require surgical repair and months of recovery.

Acetabular Fracture

Acetabular fractures are the least common type of broken hip. This fracture is a break of the socket portion in the hip joint. It may take days or weeks for pain and other symptoms to appear, delaying the need for hip fracture surgery.

Have you or your loved one suffered a broken hip due to nursing home negligence? It is essential to seek immediate medical attention. Depending on the fracture type, the broken hip may need to be repaired surgically or with a cast or brace. The injuries suffered by the victim might only be resolved with a partial or total hip replacement.

It is also essential to work closely with your healthcare provider to make any necessary lifestyle changes that will help prevent a future hip fracture, including:

• Staying physically active
• Eating a healthy diet
• Taking any necessary medication according to your doctor's recommendations

Signs and Symptoms of Broken Hips in Nursing Homes

Do you suspect your loved one has suffered a broken hip joint? The common signs and symptoms of a broken hip include:

• Severe pain in the hip or groin area
• Swelling, bruising, or redness in the affected area
• Difficulty walking or standing up
• Nausea and vomiting
• Increased pain when moving the leg or hip

If your loved one has any signs or symptoms of a broken hip, it is essential to seek medical attention. A hip fracture can be a severe physical injury that can lead to death, and prompt treatment is necessary for a full recovery.

Hip Fracture Treatment and Recovery

After a hip fracture, seniors typically need to stay in the hospital. Their healthcare team will monitor them closely, and they may require hip surgery to repair the fracture.

After being discharged from the hospital, seniors will typically need to undergo physical therapy to help them regain their strength and mobility. It can be done in a nursing home, rehabilitation center, or at home with the help of a home health aide.

After completing the long therapy process, many seniors can return to their previous activity level. However, some may need to make specific changes to their daily routine to reduce the risk of future hip fractures.

Surgery and Recovery from a Broken Hip Often Result in Diminished Quality of Care

When you sustain a broken hip and have elected to undergo surgery, it is essential to note that if your loved one lives in a nursing home, they may not receive the needed care to facilitate a healthy recovery.

Hip surgery is taxing on the body and often requires replacing the entire hip socket with an implant attached to the bone with metal screws. Broken hip patients must undergo physical therapy and often cannot take care of themselves initially.

Cutting Corners and Inattention

Nursing homes can be the worst place for recovery because they may cut corners and not give your loved one the attention or quality of care you expect. It can result in numerous forms of nursing home abuse or neglect.

For-profit nursing homes may be grossly understaffed to cut down on costs, and the staff members that take care of nursing home patients recovering from a broken hip could be unqualified due to lack of training.

• Your loved one may develop bedsores if unable to move around due to their broken hip. It can be prevented by simply moving them every few hours, but short-staffed nursing facilities may not pay the attention required to provide this simple service.
• The hip injury may not be taken seriously. Even though the evidence shows a strong link between a broken hip and serious medical concerns such as immobility and premature death, nursing home staff may not believe that a broken hip is a serious concern that requires specialized and ongoing care.
• A nursing facility must provide care tailored to every individual patient's specific needs, but they are not always equipped to meet this requirement. If staff members aren’t aware of the condition of their patients, they will often neglect areas of concern. Staff may not even be knowledgeable of the hip injury.

Studies have proven that patients who have suffered from hip injuries in nursing homes live longer and happier lives if their recovery happens at home. As a family member, you can play a pivotal role in your loved one’s recovery and ensure they have access to everything needed to facilitate a happy and healthy recovery.

Consequences of a Broken Hip for Nursing Home Residents

A hip fracture due to elder abuse can be a devastating, preventable injury for anyone, but it's incredibly damaging to the elderly patient. Seniors who experience a hip fracture have trouble recovering from the injury and must deal with several physical and psychological conditions.

They should receive optimal care while they recover in an assisted living facility.

The consequences of a hip fracture can be significant for nursing home patients. It can lead to a loss of mobility, making it difficult for seniors to perform daily activities. Many nursing home patients die soon after sustaining a hip fracture, while others suffer chronic pain.

Moreover, the physical consequences of nursing home abuse can be long-lasting. For example, many seniors who suffer from a hip fracture never regain their full range of motion. Others may require mobility aids like a walker or cane to get around. In some medical malpractice cases, a hip injury can even cause permanent disability.

Seniors have a good chance of regaining mobility and independence. Fortunately, nursing home patients can receive the care needed to recover from a hip fracture.

Average Settlement Compensation for a Broken Hip in Nursing Homes

The value of broken hip settlements will typically depend on the extent and severity of the injury and other factors such as the natural aging process and overall health. Some studies have found that a nursing home resident can expect an average broken hip settlement of around $30,000.

The Defendant Denied Liability! Now What?

It's essential to remember that every case and hip injury settlement value is unique. The nursing home (defendant) might deny it is responsible for damages after the resident fell and acquired a broken hip.

The facility might have a small liability policy that limits the amount its insurer will pay.

The compensation that a nursing home resident receives will depend on the specific facts and circumstances of the hip fracture case. The age and health of the nursing home resident with a broken hip can play a role in determining the settlement amount resolving the hip fracture case.

Injured Nursing Home Residents Requiring Long-Term Care

Older seniors with ongoing medical conditions may require more long-term care and rehabilitation, increasing the medical bills for their treatment. Injured victims who are younger and healthier may be able to recover more quickly, which means that they won't need as much care over the same time period and can spend less money on treatment.

Was your loved one's broken hip injury not caused by the natural aging process but was due to nursing home negligence? If so, it is essential to contact our law firm to speak to our experienced personal injury lawyer.

Our law firm will review your case in detail and help you determine whether you have a valid wrongful death case or personal injury claim against the negligent nursing home.

Broken Hip Lawsuits Settlement Amounts & Verdicts

Nursing home hip fracture verdicts and settlements have varied widely. Some cases settle for as little as $10,000, while others have resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts. The amount of the nursing home abuse settlement or verdict will depend on several factors, including:

• The severity of the broken hip
• The extent of the recovery time
• Whether or not there is any permanent disability
• The percentage of fault that can be attributed to the nursing home
• The amount of insurance coverage that is available

Nursing home settlements and verdicts on hip fracture cases are higher when the injury results in a permanent disability or a lengthy recovery. Some medical malpractice cases where the nursing home is at fault are likely to result in higher nursing home abuse settlements or verdicts.

If negligence played a role in your loved one's hip injury, you might be entitled to compensation for your broken hip, including:

• Medical bills
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium

In general, victims of nursing home neglect can receive compensation ranging from several thousand dollars to tens of thousands. The settlement may be lower if the defendant denied liability or had little to no insurance coverage.

If you are considering filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit for your loved one's broken hip, it is essential to consult with an experienced lawyer. Our broken hip lawyer will obtain and evaluate all medical records to determine whether a lawsuit may be filed against the nursing home.

Obtain Legal Help Now When a Loved One Has Fractured a Hip at a Nursing Home

The Illinois nursing home negligence attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC concentrate on helping the families of those harmed in nursing home accidents involving fractured hips. You deserve the compensation needed to provide your loved one with top-quality care following a hip injury to live out the rest of their years in comfort and dignity.

Filing a wrongful death lawsuit or a personal injury lawsuit can offer you and your family the support you need during this difficult time.

Has your loved one fallen, or were they dropped by nursing home staff and suffered a hip fracture? If so, contact our law firm at (888) 424-5757 today to schedule a free consultation to learn more about the laws that apply to different personal injury cases.

Once we’ve had the opportunity to evaluate and investigate the details of your broken hip case, we will review your legal options to seek compensation and keep the family informed on what to expect and how we would recommend proceeding.

All confidential or sensitive information shared with our law firm is kept private through an attorney-client relationship.

Resources:

• Hip Fracture Injuries in America | NCBI
• Life After Hip Fracture Injuries in Nursing  Facilities | JAMA