How Broken Hips Lead to Death In Nursing Home Residents

When an elderly loved one needs round-the-clock care beyond what family members can provide, families trust nursing homes to keep residents safe, supervised, and protected from preventable injuries. Sadly, chronic understaffing, poor training, and inadequate supervision in many facilities lead to neglect that places residents at serious risk. One of the most devastating and often preventable outcomes of nursing home negligence is a hip fracture.

For families in Arizona, a fatal hip fracture may signal a failure in basic care, supervision, or fall prevention. In these cases, a Phoenix nursing home abuse lawyer can help determine whether neglect or abuse contributed to a loved one’s injury or death. Medical research consistently shows that hip fractures in elderly nursing home residents drastically reduce quality of life and significantly increase the risk of premature death.

Why Are the Elderly More Likely to Experience Hip Fractures?

Hip fractures are uncommon in younger adults and usually occur only during severe trauma. In older adults, however, age-related changes dramatically increase fracture risk. These include:

• Bone density loss (osteoporosis), especially in weight-bearing bones
• Muscle weakness, balance issues, and fatigue
• Mobility limitations from arthritis or prior injuries
• Increased dizziness due to medications or chronic conditions

In nursing homes, these risks are well known. Facilities have a legal duty of care to assess each resident’s fall risk and implement protective measures such as mobility aids, supervision during transfers, and assistance with daily activities like bathing and toileting. When staff fail to provide this level of care, falls and hip fractures become far more likely.

Why Do Hip Fractures In the Elderly Lead to Death?

A scientific research study following subjects over the age of 65 with hip fractures for 3 to 9 years revealed a 27.3% mortality rate within one year of hip surgery and an alarming 79% mortality rate at the 9-year follow-up. Hip fractures and the surgery used to correct a hip fracture have alarming ill effects on the elderly, including the following:

• Immobility increases the chances of blood clots, circulatory problems, and infections such as pneumonia, infected bedsores, and urinary tract infections
• Pain and immobility can lead to weakness, which causes additional falls and serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries
• Pain medications after a hip fracture and surgery may cause dizziness and drowsiness, leading to additional falls
• Reduced mobility may lead to inadequate nutritional intake and dehydration, leading to death
• Inactivity and social withdrawal after a hip fracture may lead to reduced quality of life, cognitive decline, and dementia, causing shortened life expectancy in the elderly

Without vigilant post-injury care, a hip fracture can trigger a rapid and irreversible health decline.

Nursing Home Duties After a Hip Fracture

Nursing homes are legally required to protect residents both before and after a hip fracture occurs. This includes:

• Proper fall-risk assessments and prevention plans
• Prompt medical attention after a fall
• Monitoring for post-surgical infections and circulatory problems
• Assisting residents with safe mobility during recovery
• Ensuring adequate nutrition, hydration, and pain management

Failure to meet these obligations may constitute nursing home neglect, particularly when a resident’s condition worsens or leads to death.

How a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help

If your loved one suffered a fatal hip fracture due to inadequate supervision, poor fall prevention, or neglect during recovery, surviving family members may have grounds for a nursing home wrongful death claim. Legal action cannot undo the loss, but it can hold negligent facilities accountable and help families recover compensation for medical costs, funeral expenses, and the profound loss of companionship.

Knapp & Roberts represents families whose loved ones were harmed by nursing home neglect and abuse. A qualified nursing home abuse lawyer can investigate staffing records, care plans, medical documentation, and facility practices to determine whether the death was preventable.