Generations at Applewood in Matteson was cited and fined by IDPH when a resident suffered a fractured tibia due to her foot becoming ensnared in her wheelchair.
The incident occurred during an attempt to transport the resident from her room to a common area for an activity. The activity aide responsible for assisting the resident that day neglected to attach the necessary footrests to the wheelchair before initiating the transport. Without the footrests, the residents feet dangled freely, leaving her in a precarious position during the journey.
As the activity aide pushed the resident down the hallway, everything seemed to go smoothly until they reached a corner where the wheelchair needed to turn. Due to the resident’s difficulty in maneuvering sharp turns, she involuntarily lost her balance and attempted to catch herself, leading her right foot to get entangled under the wheelchair’s frame, causing excruciating pain.
The resident was transported to an acute care hospital, where an examination revealed a right tibial fracture near her right knee. The fracture was deemed severe enough to warrant hospitalization for immediate treatment and care.
There was no policy at the facility regarding the use of footrests for safe transportation of residents who use wheelchairs.
Unfortunately, the Activity staff member who pushed the resident in the wheelchair when the accident occured said that she “didn’t really pay attention” and that the resident did not have footrests. She said the resident was holding her legs up while she pushed the chair but then dropped her foot down during transport.
One of our core beliefs is that nursing homes are built to fail due to the business model they follow and that unnecessary injuries and illnesses and wrongful deaths of residents are the inevitable result. Order our FREE report, Built to Fail, to learn more about why. Our experienced Chicago nursing home lawyers are ready to help you understand what happened, why, and what your rights are. Contact us to get the help you need.
Other blog posts of interest:
Pleasant Meadows Senior Living Resident Fractures Hip and Wrist in Fall
Unlocked Furniture Causes Fall and Broken Leg at Mount Vernon Countryside Manor
Click here to file a complaint about a nursing home with the Illinois Department of Public Health.
