Here is a list of things that you can do, to protect the elderly from a slip and fall within a nursing home:

1. Watch out for wet floors – It’s no surprise that wet floors can cause someone to slip or fall. We have all slipped at one point in our life from the ground being wet.  Nursing homes are required to maintain their facility and watch out for areas that may be wet.  If you identify an area in a nursing home where the ground is wet, alert the nursing staff immediately.
2. Loose carpet – From time to time, you may walk into a grocery store and trip over a mat placed near the front of company’s door.  The mat, though placed there for you to wipe your feet, may not be securely placed on the ground, which consequently creates a hazard to patrons entering the store.  Again, notify proper staff immediately, if you find an area at the nursing home where the carpet or flooring may cause an elderly person to slip and fall.

<h2>Reporting Slip and Falls</h2>

The first step to report slip and falls is actually to visit the hospital.  You want to make sure that your loved one is taken care of properly and that there are no internal damages (in addition to external cuts, bruises and/or lacerations).

Next, be sure to document as much information as possible about the incident.  Items to include in your notes include the names of the nursing home staff at the time of the accident and the exact location of the incident.  If you can, take pictures of the area for documentation purposes.

Finally, if the slip and fall resulted in serious injury or even wrongful death, you may want to consider hiring an nursing home abuse attorney.

While it may be difficult attribute a wrongful death to a particular incident (or incidents) at a nursing home that involves abuse or neglect, there are a handful of ways that loved ones can do to help prevent these deaths from occurring.

Preventing wrongful deaths

The first step to prevent wrongful death is to listen to your loved one. Are they trying to tell you that something is wrong? Listen to how they are speaking to you and the words that he/she is using (or not using). Are they reluctant to tell you how a particular nurse or caretaker is? Do they become angry easily or avoid social interaction?

Another step is to interview the nursing staff. Do staff members actually care to communicate? If they are short, or moody with you in any way, they may be a potential problem for your loved one.

Finally, unscheduled night visits. Often times, unscheduled night visits will place the nursing staff on high alert to be on their best behavior. By visiting the nursing home at night, you have the opportunity to identify whether or not the nursing home is adequately staffed.

How to Report Wrongful Deaths

If you suspect that your loved one way be a wrongful death victim, report it immediately to the proper authorities. Document as much information as possible. From the names of the nurses who were responsible for caring for your loved one, to names of any witnesses who may have witness any sort of crime that may have occurred.  Click here to report elder abuse in your state.

Elder abuse occurs when an individual or institution directly or indirectly causes harm, or the risk of harm, to an older adult.

In the United States, it is esimtated that there are up to 5,000,000 cases of elder abuse every year, with most of the cases going unreported. Most of the abusers are typically individuals that the elder has an expectation of trust with such as as a spouse, family member or caregiver. Professional caregivers in institutions such as nursing homes and assited living centers may be abusers as well.

Types of Elder Abuse

There are many different types of elder abuse, with the most common form being physical, financial and emotional abuse. Although laws vary from state to state, abuse may be broadly defined as the following:

Financial Elder Abuse
This type of abuse occurs when an elderly person’s finances and/or assets, such as real estate, are improperly used or taken away by another individual or instituion. Individuals and institutions that MAY commit financial abuse include (not limited to): Financial Planners, Conservators, Caregivers, Trustees, Banks and even Family Members and Friends.
Financial Abuse Include:		Warning Signs include:
Theft Embezzelment of money or property Fraud (telemarketing, investment, predatory lending, etc.) Identity theft		Large sums of money withdrawn from the account Transfer of real estate ownernship Unpaid bills Lack of funds to purchase personal amenities

Physical Elder Abuse
Physical abuse of elders is a serious crime which can occur through non-accidental actions that results in physical pain, injury, impairment, or in some cases, even death.
Physical Abuse Include:		Warning Signs include:
Physical assault (punching, hitting, biting, etc.) Sexual assault/Sexual abuse Denial of access to pain medications Denail of food and/or water Physical restraint Burn marks		Bite marks Lacerations Unusual bruises or broken bones High incidences or reocurrence of accidents Unusual injuries, swelling or distoration of the face, arms and legs

Emotional Elder Abuse and Neglect
This form of abuse occurs when an individual, or a group of individuals, make overt or covert verbal gestures or withold positive support that causes an elder emotional pain and suffering. Emotional abuse of elders is often difficult to prove. However, it is likely to be present if physical abuse exists.
Emotional Abuse Include:		Warning Signs include:
Intimidation Threats Humiliation Confinement Isolation		Low self-esteem Lowered self-worth Insecurity Sadness Depression