The family of actor Gene Barry is suing Sunrise of Woodland Hills for Los Angeles nursing home negligence, wrongful death, violations of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and willful misconduct. The 90-year-old actor, known for playing the starring role on the television show Bat Masterson, died after a fall accident at the assisted living facility. Barry was suffering from Alzheimer's.
Los Angeles Nursing Home Fall Accidents
Fall accidents are the number one cause of accidental injury and deaths involving seniors in the 65 and over age group. According to SeekWellness.com, the more advanced a senior's age, the greater the chance of a fall-related mortality happening. Over 50% of all fatal falls involve elderly seniors in the 75 and over age group. Elderly seniors in the age 85 and over age group are 40 times more likely to die from a fall accident than seniors under the age of 70.
Serious fall injuries can include lacerations, joint dislocation, head trauma, muscle sprains, hip fractures, and broken bones. Hip fractures are the most serious type of fall injury, with 20 - 30% of patients dying within one year of sustaining the fracture. A fall accident can also result in psychological trauma, including a fear of falling. This can lead to depression, functional decline, a greater fall risk, lower quality of life, a decreased ability to safely perform tasks, immobility, pressure sores, muscle weakness, contractions, bone loss. The deterioration of health can prove fatal for elderly seniors that have weakened immune systems.
There are steps that nursing homes can take to prevent fall accidents from happening. Failure to provide a patient with the proper preventive measures can be grounds for a Los Angeles nursing home neglect case.
Gene Barry's Children Sue for Wrongful Death, Courthouse News Service, November 30, 2010
TV Star Gene Barry Dead at 90, FoxNews, December 11, 2009
Extent of Falling, SeekWellness
Related Web Resources:
Falls in Nursing Homes, CDC
50 Articles on Preventing Falls in Retirement Homes, RetirementHomes.org
