Falls are a leading cause of injury-related death, hospitalization, and emergency room visits for New Mexicans 65 and older. For nursing home residents, many of whom were already admitted to care because of conditions linked to falling, that risk may be higher than for other older adults living independently.
New Mexico’s population is aging quickly, with residents 65 and older on track to make up more than 20 percent of the state by 2030. As that number grows, so does the number of families facing the risk of a fall injury involving a parent, spouse, or grandparent in a nursing home.
New Mexico’s Fall Injury Numbers Are Moving in Two Directions
State health data shows a mixed picture. Fall-related deaths among older New Mexicans dropped 41 percent between 2020 and 2024, leaving the state’s death rate 30 percent below the national average. In 2024 alone, the state recorded 207 unintentional fall-related deaths, and 86 percent of those were among adults 65 and older.
At the same time, non-fatal fall injuries are climbing. Age-adjusted hospitalizations for falls rose 11 percent, and emergency room visits among older adults jumped 51 percent between 2020 and 2024. Fewer falls are proving fatal, but more older New Mexicans are being seriously hurt.
Why the Same Risk Factors Hit Harder Inside a Nursing Home
State health officials point to balance problems, medication side effects, and vision loss as common fall risks for older adults. Those same factors are often more advanced, and more layered, in a nursing home population.
When elderly individuals are admitted into long-term care, it is often due to mobility impairment, increasing frailty, a medical condition that needs constant care, dementia, or a complex medication regimen. These factors can make it unsafe or even impossible for them to manage their daily care needs without assistance. That difference changes how fall risk plays out inside a facility compared to a private home.
- Risk factors rarely appear in isolation: A resident with declining mobility is often also managing a medication regimen that may affect their balance. Being in a nursing home or other care facility addresses the many complications and risks arising from the ongoing care they need.
- Residents depend on staff for basic movement: Getting out of bed, walking to the bathroom, or even just transferring to a wheelchair may require direct assistance. A key reason staffing gaps create an dangerous and immediate fall risk rather than an inconvenience.
- Cognitive impairment limits self-protection: A resident with dementia may not remember their own physical limitations or recognize a hazard. Nursing home staff supervision is a primary safeguard for these individuals.
- Medication regimens are often more complex: Nursing home residents frequently take multiple medications at once, and interactions between them can increase drowsiness, balance issues, or dizziness, increasing their risk of falling.
- The same fall causes more severe harm: Reduced bone density, blood-thinning medications, and slower healing means a fall that might bruise a healthier, younger person can cause a hip fracture or subdural hematoma (brain bleed) in a nursing home resident.
A Nursing Home’s Duty Goes Beyond What NMDOH Recommends for Individuals
State health guidance for older New Mexicans focuses on what individuals and families can do: exercise, medication reviews, home safety upgrades. A nursing home has a separate legal responsibility that is held to a much higher standard. Facilities are required to assess each resident’s fall risk and put safeguards in place to address it, not simply recommend general wellness steps.
When a facility fails to meet that responsibility, assessing whether a specific fall was preventable often comes down to whether the facility followed through on what it already knew about a resident’s risk.
When a Fall Isn’t Witnessed, the Risk Data Still Matters
The rise in fall-related ER visits and hospitalizations reflects real injuries, even when a fall itself goes unseen. Many nursing home falls happen when no staff member is present to witness them, which can leave families with more questions than answers.
Even without an eyewitness, building a case around an unwitnessed fall often relies on the same kind of facility records, from staffing logs to care plans, that show whether a resident’s known risk was being managed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a nursing home required to assess my loved one’s fall risk before they move in?
Yes. Facilities are required to evaluate a resident’s fall risk as part of the admission process and put appropriate safeguards in place based on that assessment.
Do I have a weaker claim if my loved one was already a fall risk before moving into a nursing home?
No. A documented fall risk on file before an incident may actually strengthen a claim, since it shows the facility had notice of the danger and a duty to address it.
Can a facility point to New Mexico’s statewide decline in fall deaths to argue it met its duty of care?
No. A statewide trend reflects outcomes across the whole population and does not establish what a specific facility did, or failed to do, for one resident.
Concerned About a Fall in Your Loved One’s Nursing Home? Contact PKSD
New Mexico’s hospital and ER data show that the number of fall injuries among older adults are increasing. For families with a loved one in a nursing home, that trend raises real questions about whether a facility is doing enough to manage risks it already knows about.
At PKSD, if your loved one was injured in a fall at a New Mexico nursing home, our nursing home injury lawyers in Albuquerque can review the circumstances of your situation, answer you questions, and help you understand potential legal options. There is no cost or obligation for your initial consultation, and when we represent you, there are also no upfront fees or out-of-pocket costs to pay. Call us today to see how we can help you.
