It isn’t much of a stretch to say that most people who are in nursing homes are there because they need more help and care than would be able to get at home. In some cases, residents are at an increased risk of choking, falling or some other calamity. The workers at the nursing home are expected to take these increased risks seriously and do what they can to prevent the nursing home resident from being injured. A lawsuit recently filed in Cook County Circuit Court shows how devastating improperly handling fall risks can be for the resident.
The lawsuit was filed on May 15 against several entities representing Manocare Health Services – South Holland. The complainant seeks more than $50,000 for injuries sustained while in the care of the nursing home. She says the nursing facility was in violation of the Nursing Home Care Act.
The complainant was at physical therapy when she allegedly fell off a mechanical lift on May 16, 2012. The workers at the nursing home reportedly knew she had a high fall risk. The impact of the fall caused a bone fracture. The woman had to have hip surgery one day after the nursing home accident. She alleges that the hip surgery and pressure ulcers she developed were because of the fall.
This woman has opted to exercise her right to seek compensation for this horrible injury. While compensation won’t take away the pain of the femur fracture, surgery or pressure sores, it might help to minimize the financial impact the accident has on her.
Source: The Cook County Record, “Woman files suit against South Holland nursing home over fractured femur” Annie Cosby, Jun. 05, 2014