The Double-Edged Sword of Nursing Home Fall Mats

Fall prevention is part of a nursing home’s everyday routine. Staff assess mobility, review medications, and use a range of tools to reduce the chance that a fall will lead to serious injury. Floor mats are one of those tools used in prevention, often placed near beds or transfer areas for residents considered at higher risk.

These mats are created and used with a specific purpose in mind: to reduce the impact of a fall if it should occur. In many situations, they can do exactly that. But in others, their use clutters the floor and, unfortunately, increases the risk of injury.

Like any safety measure, they work best when used thoughtfully and reviewed regularly. Understanding both their benefits and their limitations also helps families put later safety decisions in context, especially if an injury raises questions about whether proper care standards were followed.

The Use of Fall Mats in Nursing Homes

Falls are not unexpected events in nursing homes. Many residents live with limited mobility, balance issues, medication side effects, or cognitive conditions that increase fall risk. Nursing home staff know this, and facilities regularly assess residents and create care plans meant to reduce the likelihood of serious injury.

Floor mats are used when a resident is considered high-risk. They’re typically placed beside a bed or near areas where staff know falls are more likely to occur, such as during transfers or nighttime movement. They don’t reduce the risk of falling, but reduce the harm if it occurs.

When used appropriately, mats can help absorb the force of a fall. Instead of a direct impact with hard flooring, a resident may land on a cushioned surface that reduces stress on the hips, knees, shoulders, or head. This can matter, especially for older adults with fragile bones, where a lower-impact fall may mean the difference between bruising and a fracture.

In theory, mats are a practical response to a known medical risk. In practice, their effectiveness depends heavily on how and why they’re used.

When Fall Mats Can Increase the Risk of Injury

Despite their purpose, fall mats are not without drawbacks. In some situations, they can actually make falls more likely or injuries more severe.

Mats that are not properly secured can shift or curl, creating a tripping hazard. Residents with walkers or wheelchairs may catch a foot or wheel edge. Others may not see the mat at all, especially if it blends into the floor or if the resident has vision impairment.

There’s also the risk that a mat placed for nighttime protection remains in place during the day, when a resident is more active. What was meant to cushion a low-height fall can become an obstacle during walking or transfers. Over time, as a resident’s mobility or cognition changes, a mat that once helped can quietly become dangerous.

How Nursing Home Decisions Shape Mat-Related Injuries

The effectiveness of a fall mat depends less on the mat itself and more on the context around it. No two residents have the same needs, and no safety tool works in isolation.

Administrative factors like supervision levels, staffing patterns, medication changes, and time of day all affect whether a mat is helpful or harmful. A mat placed without ongoing evaluation may signal that a risk was recognized, but not actively managed.

After an injury, families are left with pieces of the full story. They may learn for the first time that a mat had been in use, or that it had remained in place for months without reassessment. Questions follow naturally, but whether the nursing home answers them honestly isn’t guaranteed.

An injury doesn’t automatically mean negligence. But when a safety tool contributes to harm, it’s reasonable to look more closely at how care decisions were made. Mats, like other preventive measures, become part of the medical record and part of the explanation families seek when trying to understand what happened.

What Compensation May Cover After a Nursing Home Injury

Discovering your loved one suffered an injury in their nursing home can bring normal life to a screeching halt. When you find that it could have been prevented, that feeling gets all the more constricting.

In situations where an injury is tied to negligent care, compensation may help address losses connected to the injury, which can include:

• Medical expenses related to emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, or follow-up treatment
• Rehabilitation services, such as physical or occupational therapy
• Mobility aids or assistive equipment needed after the injury
• The cost of transferring to a higher level of care or a different facility
• Pain, discomfort, or reduced quality of life resulting from a serious fall

Compensation in these cases is intended to address the practical effects of an injury and support a resident’s needs moving forward. What’s available to your family depends on the circumstances, the extent of the injury, and the care decisions involved.

Moving Forward After a Serious Nursing Home Fall

Legal action can’t reverse the suffering your loved one endured, but it can offer compensation for the recovery process and ensure that a situation like this never happens again for another family.

But seeking accountability isn’t a straightforward path. The legal system is complex, and there’s no guarantee the nursing home will cooperate. Many families find themselves in situations that feel impossible before they find a law firm that can illuminate the steps forward.

For over 35 years, Morgan & Morgan has been the firm families have turned to when navigating this traumatic process. While the nursing home aims to protect itself, our team steps in, keeping focus on your loved one, their injury, and how to compensate your family properly for what you’ve endured. They may try to conceal their wrongdoing, but it’s only a matter of time before America’s Largest Personal Injury firm brings the truth to light.

If you suspect your loved one was injured by a nursing home’s negligence, our team is here to help. Get started today with a free, no-risk case evaluation. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the most common causes of falls in nursing homes?

Falls in nursing homes can happen for many reasons, including muscle weakness, balance issues, medication side effects, cluttered walkways, or inadequate assistance. Environmental hazards and insufficient supervision also contribute.

2. Can nursing home fall mats prevent serious injuries?

Floor mats are designed to cushion impact and reduce the severity of injuries when a fall occurs, especially from a bed or low surface. They don’t stop the fall itself, but can lower the risk of fractures and head trauma when used in appropriate situations.

3. What injuries can result from a fall in a nursing home?

Falls can lead to broken bones, head injuries, bruises, and, in some cases, long-term effects on mobility or independence. Some residents may also experience emotional impacts like fear of falling again.

4. Is a nursing home legally responsible if a resident falls and is injured?

Nursing homes have a duty to assess fall risk and implement reasonable prevention measures, including supervision and safety plans. 

If a facility fails to follow its own care protocols or known standards of care and a resident is harmed as a result, the home may be held liable under negligence law.

5. Do federal regulations require nursing homes to prevent falls?

Yes. Federal and state regulations require nursing homes to provide a safe environment and implement individualized fall prevention plans tailored to each resident’s needs.