Broken Bones in Nursing Homes

Broken Bones Are a Red Flag—Not Just a “Common” Injury

In nursing homes, a broken bone isn’t just a medical emergency—it’s often a warning sign. Fractures typically don’t happen in safe, well-supervised facilities. They happen when call buttons go unanswered, residents are left to move alone, or staff cut corners on basic assistance.

At The Higgins Firm, we help families nationwide understand the cause behind a loved one’s fracture—and whether it could have been prevented. If neglect played a role, we hold nursing homes legally and financially accountable.

How Broken Bones Happen in Nursing Homes

Fractures in long-term care settings most often result from falls, which are frequently preventable with adequate supervision, fall risk assessments, and mobility support.

Common Scenarios That Lead to Broken Bones:

• Falls from bed, chairs, or toilets when residents aren’t assisted
• Unsupervised walking or transfers
• Slips on wet floors or tripping over clutter
• Being dropped by staff during lifting or repositioning
• Falls during bathing or dressing without proper equipment or support
• Altercations or being struck—especially in dementia care units

These incidents typically indicate breakdowns in staffing, supervision, equipment use, or training.

Most Common Fractures in Elderly Nursing Home Residents

Even a “clean” fracture can be life-altering in older adults—leading to loss of independence, hospitalization, or permanent decline.

Why the Elderly Are More Susceptible to Fractures

Broken bones are more common in seniors due to:

• Osteoporosis and low bone density
• Slower reflexes and balance problems
• Muscle atrophy and joint stiffness
• Cognitive issues, such as dementia or delirium
• Vision problems or medication side effects
• Reliance on others for mobility or transfers

That’s why nursing homes are expected to proactively assess fall risk and tailor care plans accordingly.

Red Flags That a Fracture May Be Due to Neglect

In our experience, broken bones are rarely just “accidents.” Be alert if:

• Staff can’t explain how the injury happened
• The facility claims the resident “was fine one minute, injured the next”
• No fall risk assessment was done or updated
• The resident had prior falls that were dismissed
• The fracture was not reported immediately to the family or physician
• Documentation is vague or inconsistent
• There’s a delay between the incident and medical evaluation

Often, families don’t learn the full story until after hospitalization—or an autopsy.

Nursing Homes’ Legal Responsibilities

Federal law and CMS regulations require that nursing homes:

• Conduct and document fall risk assessments
• Update care plans after any incident or health change
• Provide adequate assistance with mobility, toileting, and transfers
• Keep the environment free of trip and slip hazards
• Maintain sufficient staffing to respond to call lights and prevent wandering
• Notify physicians and families promptly after an injury

When these duties are ignored and a resident suffers a broken bone, the facility may be liable for negligence or abuse.

How Higgins Investigates Fracture and Fall Injuries

We take a forensic approach to uncover what really happened. Our team will:

• Review incident reports, nurse notes, and fall logs
• Analyze staffing levels and call bell response times
• Consult with orthopedic and geriatric care experts
• Reconstruct the timeline between fall and treatment
• Evaluate whether care plans were followed—or ignored
• Identify patterns of prior injuries, falls, or citations at the facility

We don’t just look at the fracture—we build the case around how and why it was allowed to happen.

Your Family May Be Entitled to Compensation

If your loved one suffered a preventable fracture due to nursing home neglect, you may be entitled to:

• Medical expenses (surgery, rehab, hospitalization)
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent loss of function or independence
• Loss of mobility or mental decline after immobility
• Wrongful death damages (if the injury proved fatal)
• Punitive damages in cases of egregious misconduct

We fight for the outcome your family deserves—and the accountability the facility tried to avoid.

Why Families Choose The Higgins Firm

• National Nursing Home Neglect Focus
• Clients in All 50 States, from our home office in Nashville, TN
• Specialized Medical-Legal Teams, including fall injury consultants
• Clear, Compassionate Client Communication
• Proven Record Taking on Large Chains and For-Profit Facilities

When a bone breaks, someone should be asking how—and whether it had to happen.

Speak to a Nursing Home Injury Attorney Today

If your loved one suffered a fracture in a nursing home—especially if it wasn’t witnessed, explained, or reported properly—you have every right to get answers. Let us help you determine whether neglect played a role.