Understanding Broken Bones and Causes of Fractures in Oregon Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities
There are many possible ways that a resident of a nursing home could be injured. This is because residents of nursing homes are usually in a weakened state, recovering from an illness, injury, or other condition which affects their ability to care or live for themselves independently. After all, this is why we are often forced with the difficult decision of placing a loved one in a nursing home. While most nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and assisted living facilities provide exceptional care, unfortunately our Portland nursing home injury lawyer knows there are far too many facilities that fail and cause reckless or needless harm to a resident. One common way is through unnecessary falls or injuries to residents which result in fractures. There are many causes of fractures in Oregon nursing homes and assisted living facilities which could do this. It is important for families to know about these common causes.
The good news is that most of the common causes of fractures in Oregon nursing homes and assisted living facilities are preventable. This means that a nursing home and its staff can prevent injuries to residents like fractures in Oregon nursing homes caused by falls. This can be done with the exercise of reasonable care in a nursing home facility, including preventing reckless, careless, and negligent injuries. It also means that staff can help protect residents from unintentional causes of falls like trip and falls, bedrail injuries, and fall risk patients. But it also means that staff can help protect residents from intentional injuries, such as fights in homes or elder abuse, neglect, or physical harm.
What is a Broken Bone or Fractured Bone?
A broken bone or fractured bone is the same thing. It occurs when there is structure damage in the bone. This usually means that the bone has cracked, splintered, or otherwise been damaged. There are many ways this damage could be caused. In elderly individuals, bones are more fragile and usually break or splinter. But in child or younger adults, bones can even bend or become indented.
A broken bone can usually be repaired without surgery in what is called a closed reduction. This means lining up the broken ends together and then casting or splinting it. But sometimes a broken bone cannot be repaired without surgery. This means that a broken bone can only be repaired with surgery. A surgeon can open up a patient and place rods, pins, plates, screws and other hardware to fix the damage.
Causes of Fractures and Broken Bones
In an Oregon nursing home, our Portland nursing home injury lawyer knows that there are many causes of fractures or broken bones. Most of these causes can be prevented and avoided. Some of the most common causes include the following:
- Lack of supervision
- Physical abuse or sexual abuse
- Neglect
- Not gauging a resident’s fall risk and protecting the resident
- Wandering and elopement
- Fights between residents
- Malnutrition
- Rehabilitation that isn’t ready for weight bearing
- Debris on floors
- Slip and falls from spills or snow/ice outside or tracked inside
- Wheelchair accidents
- Falls in and out of bathtubs or showers, and
- Other types of serious injuries or damages caused by nursing home negligence.
Victims of Nursing Home Injuries in Oregon Should Call Our Portland Nursing Home Injury Lawyer, Especially for Fractures or Broken Bones
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect contact the Oregon Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take Nursing Home Abuse cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.
