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Due to the fragile nature of their bodies, senior citizens develop terrible physical problems, in the event that their legs give out on them, or they lose their balance. Still, a personal injury lawyer should expect to hear about more than physical injuries, if an older client has fallen. The client’s troubles might reflect the development of all sorts of social, psychological and emotional issues.
Specific examples of the senior’s varied problems, following a fall
Psychological trauma: This is caused by the fact that the injured senior has been placed in a strange situation. This has taken place at a time when the injured person welcomes the familiar aspects of a routine. Those treating the disoriented and traumatized senior must understand what factors in the day’s schedule match with that same senior’s typical routine.
In addition, the older adult might have conflicting desires. That could certainly be true in someone that has been placed in an institutional setting. The patient in that setting might not like the food being served. On the other hand, the same patient would probably be struggling to develop a greater level of independence. That conflict could explain a patient’s strange habits, such as showing a desire to eat the food, when suspecting that no one is looking.
Examples of social withdrawal: The injured senior could experience a feeling of abandonment. The senior’s spirits would get lifted by any visitor. The failure of a doctor or therapist to show up for a scheduled visit would be upsetting.
Emotional issues that must be addressed: If the caregiver does not seek to prevent it, the person being cared for could start to feel comfortable with dependence on others. That should be prevented, because it slows recovery. Even a bed-ridden patient may benefit from performance of certain exercises. Seniors that do such exercises on their own should be praised.
Situations that can make a fall more likely to occur
• The older adult enters a room with a wet floor.
• A floor does not have a completely flat surface. There are some raised spots in the flooring.
• A room lacks good lighting, so it becomes difficult to avoid various obstacles.
• An entrance way with automatic doors fails to work properly, when someone with a walker tries to enter the building.
• Senior must try to walk on poorly-built stairways.
• Landscaping architect fails to place railings on all of the outdoor stairs.
Seniors can get used to certain pieces of equipment, such as walkers. Sometimes a piece of equipment that a physical therapist has called “the Cadillac of walkers” looks impressive, but may not be all that sturdy. Yet a traumatized senior might refuse to try a sturdier model. That might lead to the accident and if the victim is not at fault, he or she is eligible to make a claim with the assistance of personal injury lawyer in Barrie.