Facial Injuries in Nursing Homes in Massachusetts
Nursing home residents are especially vulnerable members of society. While nursing homes are designed to provide a high level of care that keeps these residents safe and well, nursing home neglect can get in the way of good care. One type of injury that nursing home residents may be particularly at risk for, especially when nursing home staff acts negligently, are facial injuries. If your loved one has suffered a facial injury that you believe was the result of nursing home negligence, call our legal team at Tetzel Law today for a free consultation to learn more about your rights.
Types of Facial Injuries
According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the most common types of facial injuries amongst nursing home residents include:
- Lacerations
- Soft tissue injuries such as hematomas, contusions, and avulsions
- Facial fractures
While all of the above injury types are painful, some may require more intensive medical care and may have a greater negative impact on the impacted resident’s overall health.
Causes of Facial Trauma
Facial trauma can be the result of various accident types. According to the same study cited above, some of the most common types of facial trauma include fall injuries, particularly bathroom-related falls; trauma to the face caused when transferring a resident to and from bed; and making contact with structural housing or fixed items within the nursing home.
Facial Injuries Caused By Nursing Home Malpractice
While there is no doubt that some facial injuries are the result of true accidents that may not have been preventable, most facial injuries would not occur but for preventable acts of negligence on the part of nursing home staff. Examples of negligence that can lead to facial injuries include:
- Failure to remedy fall hazards, such as wet or slippery surfaces, missing bathroom grab bars, obstacles in walkways, loose wires or other tripping hazards, etc.
- Failure to exercise proper care when moving a resident or failure of the nursing home to maintain an appropriate patient-to-staff ratio
- Failure to properly administer medication, leading to a resident being more at risk of a fall hazard
- Failure to properly assist a nursing home resident while walking
How Tetzel Law Can Help
When a nursing home resident is involved in an accident that leads to facial trauma, they may suffer emotionally and physically, as well as incur medical expenses. What’s more, as already vulnerable patients, something such as a facial injury could have greater consequences for an elderly resident and impact their overall health and wellbeing. If your loved one has been injured in a nursing home accident that you believe was the result of negligence, you may have legal rights. When you call the office of Tetzel Law, our experienced lawyer can investigate your case and help you make a decision about how to proceed. Your loved one may be entitled to compensation for their injuries. To learn more about your legal rights, call our law firm today for a free consultation at (617) 742-1700. You can also request a free consultation online.