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Common Injuries in PA and NJ Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Cases

Reviewed and updated: March 11, 2019

Pennsylvania and New Jersey nursing home abuse and neglect cases often result in injuries and sometimes death of elderly residents. Because elderly victims are often frail, they may require a much longer period to recover from their injuries compared to younger individuals who may suffer the same injuries. In addition, they may have complications during their recovery requiring more medical treatment.

Below are three of the most common injuries PA and NJ nursing home abuse and neglect victims suffer.

Broken Bones from Fall Accidents

One of the most common types of injuries victims of nursing home abuse and neglect suffer is broken bones.  Due to negligent care, residents may be injured in fall accidents.

A common fall accident in PA and NJ nursing home neglect cases is a fall from a bed.  Here is a common scenario.  A nursing home resident in his 70s needs a bed rail when he goes to sleep at night to prevent him from rolling off the bed.  A nursing aide forgets to put up the bed rail, and the residents rolls and falls off the bed.  As a result, he breaks his hip requiring hip replacement.  In such a case, the resident has a nursing home neglect case against the nursing home due to the aide’s negligence.

Related: Hip Fractures in Elderly Residents of Nursing Homes in PA & NJ

Bed Sores

Nursing home residents who are non-mobile or have difficulty sitting or standing are often found lying in their beds or sitting in chairs or wheelchairs for extended periods of time. Bed sores often occur, and if nursing home staff members are not diligent, bed sores can become life threatening. Sepsis can occur from severe bed sores, and most nursing home patients who develop sepsis die.

Physical Abuse

Another type of injury residents suffer in PA and nursing home abuse cases is physical abuse.  Residents may be physically abused by an employee or another resident.

Example of Abuse by Employee

A nursing home resident has dementia and cannot communicate.  Because of his inability to communicate, he is physically abused by an aide.  When family members visit, they notice bruises on his body.  When the family members inquire about the bruises, they are told that their loved one fell.  However, the resident has new bruises on his body every time family members visit.  They discover through another resident that their loved one is being assaulted by the aide.

Example of Abuse by Another Resident

Two elderly residents in a PA nursing home share a room.  One of the residents assaults the other resident.  The abused resident tells the nursing home employees about his roommate, but they dismiss his complaints and do nothing.  The resident continues to be abused.

In both of these examples, the nursing home may be held responsible for the residents’ injuries.  Click here to see a discussion on proving liability in a PA or NJ nursing home abuse case.

Philadelphia, PA and NJ Nursing Home Injury Lawyers

Our lawyers handle nursing home abuse and neglect cases in NJ, the Philadelphia area and surrounding suburbs including Norristown, Delaware County, Bucks County, etc.

If you would like more information about filing a civil case for a nursing home injury, please call our office for a free case assessment. (215) 985-0777

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