Falls are one of the most common — and most dangerous — incidents affecting elderly residents in nursing homes. At Michael Hill Trial Law, we regularly speak with families who are shocked to learn that a fall their loved one suffered was not simply an “accident,” but a preventable event caused by negligence, understaffing, or poor safety practices.

For seniors, even a single fall can lead to life-altering consequences, including broken hips, head injuries, permanent loss of mobility, or a rapid decline in overall health. Understanding what to do after a fall, and knowing when a nursing home may be legally responsible, can make a critical difference for your loved one’s recovery and protection.

Why Falls Are So Common in Nursing Homes

Nursing home residents are often at a higher risk of falling due to age-related conditions, mobility limitations, and medical needs. However, high fall rates are not inevitable — they are often a sign of deeper problems within a facility.

Some of the most common contributors to nursing home falls include:

• Inadequate supervision, especially for residents who need assistance walking or transferring
• Understaffing, which leaves residents waiting too long for help
• Lack of fall risk assessments or failure to follow existing care plans
• Poor lighting, cluttered hallways, or uneven flooring
• Improper use of mobility aids, such as walkers or wheelchairs
• Medication side effects that cause dizziness or confusion

When nursing homes fail to address these risks, they may be placing residents in danger — and potentially violating their legal duty of care.

Common Injuries Caused by Nursing Home Falls

For elderly individuals, falls are rarely minor. Even a short fall can result in serious, sometimes irreversible harm.

Common fall-related injuries include:

• Hip fractures, often requiring surgery and long rehabilitation
• Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions and internal bleeding
• Spinal injuries, leading to chronic pain or paralysis
• Broken wrists, arms, or legs
• Internal injuries that may not be immediately obvious
• Loss of independence, requiring higher levels of care

In many cases, a fall marks a turning point in an elderly person’s health, leading to emotional distress, depression, or accelerated cognitive decline.

Immediate Steps to Take After a Nursing Home Fall

If your loved one has fallen in a nursing home, the actions you take early on can significantly impact both their health and any future legal claim.

Here’s what families should do as soon as possible:

1. Seek medical attention immediately
   Do not rely solely on the nursing home’s assessment. Request hospital evaluation if there is any possibility of head trauma, fractures, or internal injury.
2. Demand a written incident report
   Nursing homes are required to document falls. Ask for a copy and note the time, location, and staff involved.
3. Document everything yourself
   Take photographs of injuries, the area where the fall occurred, and any hazards such as wet floors or missing handrails.
4. Speak with your loved one
   If possible, ask what happened. Residents often provide crucial details that may be missing from official reports.
5. Monitor for delayed symptoms
   Some injuries, especially head injuries, may worsen hours or days later.

Taking these steps not only protects your loved one’s health, but also preserves evidence if legal action becomes necessary.

When Is a Nursing Home Legally Responsible for a Fall?

Not every fall automatically means negligence occurred. However, nursing homes can be held legally accountable when a fall happens because they failed to meet accepted standards of care.

A nursing home may be liable if it:

• Ignored a known high fall risk
• Failed to follow an individualized care plan
• Did not provide adequate staffing or supervision
• Failed to maintain a safe environment
• Did not respond promptly to call lights or requests for help

In Ohio, nursing homes are required to take reasonable steps to protect residents from foreseeable harm. When they fail to do so, they may be responsible for the injuries that result.

Ohio Laws and Nursing Home Fall Accountability

Ohio law provides important protections for nursing home residents. Facilities are regulated by both state agencies and federal standards, including rules that require:

• Ongoing assessments of residents’ fall risks
• Proper staff training and supervision
• Safe facility conditions
• Timely medical care after an incident

Additionally, Ohio recognizes that elderly residents have specific rights to dignity, safety, and appropriate care. When these rights are violated, families may have grounds to pursue a civil claim against the facility.

Importantly, nursing homes cannot simply dismiss a fall as “unavoidable” without proving they took appropriate preventive measures.

How Nursing Homes Try to Avoid Responsibility

Unfortunately, many families encounter resistance after a fall occurs. Nursing homes may attempt to:

• Minimize the seriousness of the injury
• Delay or withhold incident reports
• Blame the resident’s age or condition
• Alter or vaguely document what happened

This is why it is so important to act quickly and independently. Having legal guidance can help ensure that your loved one’s rights are protected and that the facility is held accountable if negligence played a role.

How Michael Hill Trial Law Helps Families After Nursing Home Falls

At Michael Hill Trial Law, we understand how overwhelming it can be to discover that a loved one was injured while under professional care. Families often feel guilt, anger, and confusion — and nursing homes do not always make the process transparent or easy.

Our firm focuses on cases involving elder neglect and nursing home negligence, helping families investigate what truly happened, identify violations of care standards, and pursue justice when preventable harm occurs.

We work to ensure that nursing homes are not allowed to cut corners at the expense of vulnerable residents — and that families receive clear answers and strong advocacy.

Protecting Your Loved One Starts With Knowing Their Rights

A fall in a nursing home is never something to ignore. Even if injuries appear minor at first, the long-term consequences can be devastating for seniors and their families.

If you suspect that a fall was caused by negligence, understaffing, or unsafe conditions, it is important to understand your legal options and act promptly.

Michael Hill Trial Law is committed to protecting elderly residents in Ohio and across the United States. If your loved one has suffered a fall in a nursing home, the firm can help you explore your options and take steps toward accountability and safer care.

Reach out to Michael Hill Trial Law to learn how they can help protect your family and stand up for the rights of nursing home residents.