Nursing Home Injuries in Indiana 

As the U.S. population continues to age, an increasing number of individuals are transitioning into nursing homes. While many residents experience quality care, nursing home injuries in Indiana remain a significant concern, with elderly individuals in these facilities suffering injuries at a disproportionately higher rate than those living outside of institutional settings. Despite the presence of skilled staff and care routines, the prevalence of negligence-related injuries within nursing homes highlights a pervasive issue that demands attention across the nation.

Five Facts about Nursing Home Injuries:  

• According to a report provided by the National Institute of Health, “an average of 2 million infections occur in nursing homes in the USA per year.”  
• A recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) noted that in each individual year from 2013 through 2017, 39 percent to 41 percent of surveyed nursing homes had an infection prevention and control deficiency. 
• The CDC observed that “among nursing home residents with an ED visit in the past 90 days, 40 percent had a potentially preventable ED visit.” 
• One working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research showed that nursing homes owned by private equity firms “increased excess mortality for residents by 10%, increased prescription of antipsychotic drugs for residents by 50%, decreased hours of frontline nursing staffing by 3%, and increased taxpayer spending per resident by 11%. That suggests an additional 20,150 lives lost as a result of private equity ownership.” 
• Using data from a study conducted in 2004, the CDC found that “Of the 1.5 million current U.S. nursing home residents in 2004, about 159,000 (11%) had pressure ulcers of any stage. Stage 2 was the most common (5%), accounting for about 50% of all pressure ulcers. Stages 1, 3, and 4 made up about the other 50% of all ulcers.” 

If you or a loved one has been injured due to negligence in a nursing home, it’s important for you to act quickly. Call an Indiana nursing home abuse attorney from Keffer Hirschauer LLP at 317-857-0160 or complete our online contact form to schedule a consultation. Our team will take immediate steps to review your injury and put into action a strategy to recover the damages that you may deserve.  

Common Nursing Home Injuries in Indiana

Nursing home injuries are any type of physical trauma suffered by a resident of a long-term care facility. Some of the more common nursing home injuries in Indiana include bedsores, fractures, infections, slips and falls, concussions, spinal injuries, and bedrail injuries. While some of these injuries may seem less severe to a younger individual, it’s important to remember that the elderly are much more susceptible to suffering long-term physical disability from injury and illness, and in some cases, even death.  

Bedsores: Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, occur when a person lies in the same spot for an extended period. This results in skin damage, necrosis, and infection. For elderly people, if left untreated, bedsores can prove to be lethal.  

Fractures: As people get older, their bones become weaker. Therefore, it’s no surprise that nursing home residents are at higher risk for fractures. For example, nursing home residents are two times more likely to sustain a hip fracture than the rest of the population. Sadly, 1 in 3 nursing home residents will die within six months of sustaining a hip fracture.  

Concussions: When someone is in an accident that results in brain trauma, they may suffer from a concussion. Although concussions are not typically life-threatening, they could lead to problems such as memory issues, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, depression, or mood swings. Elderly people who sustain a concussion experience more complications than younger people, and more often experience a detriment to their quality of life. 

Infections: The older a person gets, the more likely they are to get an infection. Sadly, infections are one of the leading causes of death in nursing homes, if left untreated. Since 2020, over 187,000 nursing home residents have died due to COVID-19. 

Spinal Cord Injuries: When someone sustains spinal cord damage, it may prevent their brain from signaling to other parts of the body. This could lead to paralysis, difficulty breathing, and loss of bowel control, among other ailments. It also increases the chance of death, as over 27% of elderly patients who suffer a cervical spine fracture die within one year.  

Slips and Falls: Slips and falls happen every day. For most people, they don’t result in severe injury but for the elderly, a slip and fall can be catastrophic. This type of accident can lead to fractures, spinal injuries, concussions, and in some cases, death. According the CDC, slips and falls tend to happen more in nursing home facilities. In fact, only 5% of adults 65 and older live in nursing homes, however, they account for about 20% of deaths stemming from slips and falls within this age group.  

Bed Rail Injuries: Although bed rails are meant to protect people, they can sometimes put an elderly person in danger. According to the FDA, between 1985 and 2009, “there were 803 incidents of patients caught, trapped, entangled, or strangled in beds with rails. Of these reports, 480 people died, 138 had a nonfatal injury, and 185 were not injured because staff intervened. Most patients were frail, elderly or confused.” 

Who Can be Held Liable for Nursing Home Injuries in Indiana?  

Nursing home residents rely entirely on their facility for essential care, including medical treatment, nutrition, hygiene, and shelter. As a result, nursing homes and their staff are legally obligated to provide a standard of care that aligns with industry norms and the regulations outlined in the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act.

When injuries occur due to negligence by a nursing home or its employees, victims may be entitled to seek legal recourse. As experienced Indiana nursing home injury attorneys, we can assist in identifying whether the facility, or an individual employee—such as a doctor, nurse, or caregiver—should be held accountable for the harm. To discuss your case with a knowledgeable and nursing home abuse attorney in Indiana, schedule a consultation with our team by calling 317-857-0160 or completing our online contact form.

Nursing Home Facilities: A nursing home facility may be held liable for injuries or abuse sustained by residents, particularly when negligence is involved. Common grounds for liability include inadequate staffing, failure to conduct background checks, improper staff training, or failure to maintain safety equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, and beds. Negligence may also arise from poor facility maintenance or unsafe conditions that put residents at risk.

Nursing Home Caregivers: Doctors, nurses, and caregivers have a responsibility to provide residents with comprehensive care, including medical attention, hygiene support, and dietary assistance. When these duties are neglected or intentionally violated, caregivers can be held responsible for resulting injuries. For instance, liability may arise from improper medication administration, failure to follow a care plan, or neglecting a resident’s condition until harm occurs.

Other Nursing Home Employees: Maintenance, security, and other staff members can also be held liable if their failure to perform their duties contributes to a resident’s injury. This includes ensuring that the facility remains free from hazards such as debris in walkways, spills, or unsafe steps. Additionally, staff must vigilantly monitor residents to maintain a safe environment and prevent accidents or injuries.

Taking Action for Nursing Home Injuries in Indiana  

When you or your loved one has suffered injury or abuse in a nursing home in Indiana, you have several avenues which you can take to remedy the situation. Most people start by lodging a formal complaint with the Long-Term Care Division of the Indiana State Department of Health. This department regulates nursing homes in Indiana. They inspect all facilities annually, review and investigate complaints, and provide licensure. If the injury or abuse was severe enough to warrant a criminal investigation, you could also contact local law enforcement and make a police report against the responsible party.  

If you or a loved one suffered an injury or abuse in a nursing home, you can also file a personal injury claim against that party. This avenue would allow you or your loved one to recover damages in the form of financial compensation for the injuries sustained at an Indiana nursing home. Although one does receive money from an injury claim like this, the lawsuit is often much bigger than the compensation; it allows a person to hold the liable party responsible and can effect real change in the facility. Even if you’re not interested in the compensation, you can rest assured that your lawsuit may prevent other nursing home residents from similar harm.  

Injured in a Nursing Home and Need an Advocate? 

If you, or someone close to you, has been injured in a nursing home, an experienced Indiana personal injury lawyer at Keffer Hirschauer LLP can help you better understand your case. Our team will take immediate steps to review the circumstances of the injury and develop an effective strategy to attempt to obtain the compensation you deserve. To speak with an Indiana nursing home injury lawyer today, call 317-857-0160 or complete our online contact form to schedule your confidential consultation.