Liability in the care of the elderly.

The most common reasons nursing homes are sued are residents' fractures and pressure ulcers. The majority of cases in a sample of 118 nursing home lawsuits resulted in settlement or a plaintiff winning at trial. The most successful method of defending a lawsuit was to dispute the facts. Risk prevention strategies include working in a sufficiently staffed facility, attending to the needs of the residents and families, and complying with federal and state regulations.