Preventing Elderly Loved Ones from Falling
Oregon Lawyers for Elderly Trip and Falls due to Negligence
If you have reason to believe your elderly loved one’s care providers were negligent in preventing injuries due to a trip and fall or slip and fall; or if you are elderly and if those taking care of you were negligent and as a result of their negligence, you fell and were injured, give the Portland Oregon lawyers at Clark Law and Associates, LLC a call at (503) 238-1010 to give you a free case evaluation to determine if one of our attorneys will accept your case on a contingency fee basis.
Statistics on Falls for the Elderly
The center for disease control and prevention reports an estimated one-third of older adults fall and the one is more likely to fall as one gets older. In 2005, 15,802 persons aged 65 years died due to injuries from falls. But the number of older adults who fall without injury or who sustain minor or moderate injuries and seek treatment medical treatment is unknown.
In their article on “Home Safety for Seniors”, Age Safe America announced the following statistics:
“Falls account for 25% of all hospital admissions and 40% of all nursing home admissions. 40% of those admitted will never return to independent living and 25% will die within one year.”
Fall injuries in older adults are the most common type of injury that dramatically changes the quality of life for the elderly. Where once an elderly person could drive a car, shop independently and live alone in their home, the injury makes independent living impossible.
Preventing Falls for the Elderly
- Repair cracked sidewalks
- Install lighting on stairs and walkways to increase visibility
- Keep walkways, pathways, and stairs clear of debris and any obstructions
- Care facilities should install handrails in the home where help with stability is needed such as bathroom areas.
Because of the serious trend in elder adult injuries, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a program called “STEDI” (stopping elderly accident deaths and injuries). They provide information and training to health care providers and caregivers to identify the risks factors and effective interventions to prevent falls and accidents for the elderly.
Information and statistics on their website that can be downloaded at:
Center of Disease Control and Prevention
While the attorneys at Clark Law and Associates, LLC wish safety for everyone, if you were injured as a result of another’s negligence, meaning someone failed to use reasonable care under the circumstances, please call a law firm attorney at (503) 238-1010 for a free evaluation to see if one of our lawyers will accept your case on a contingency fee basis.