IDPH has cited and fined Dixon Rehab & Health Care Center when a resident there tripped and fell over a towel left on the bathroom floor, resulting in a fractured nose and brain hemorrhage.
When a nursing home agrees to accept a resident, they are agreeing that they will meet the care needs of the resident on a 24/7 basis. That’s the promise they make to the resident and his or her family. More than just being a promise to the resident, it is what federal regulations require. When the facility fails to provide the care that is needed, they don’t just break their promise to the resident and his/her family, they break the law.
The resident in question, who has a history of falls and requires moderate assistance with showering, was walking into the shower room with her walker when she tripped over a wrinkled blanket on the floor.
The CNA that was accompanying the resident to the shower explained that she had placed the blanket on the floor to absorb water and had asked the resident to stop so she could get next to her, but the resident did not stop and continued walking towards the shower.
The Director of Nursing stated that a gait belt should be used but the resident refuses to wear one. The Administrator acknowledged that it is not a safe practice to have a blanket on the floor of the shower room and later discovered that the shower was leaking water onto the floor, which is why a towel was being used.
It is the responsibility of the facility to provide a safe environment for its residents, and in this case it appears that a leaky shower was at the root of the problem. If the facility had maintained the bathroom correctly, the CNA would not have felt inclined to put a towel on the floor to soak up the water, and the resident would have had a clear, safe path to the shower.
One of our core beliefs is that nursing homes are built to fail due to the business model they follow and that unnecessary accidental injuries and wrongful deaths of nursing home residents are the inevitable result. 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.
