In the first 24–72 hours after a nursing home fall, the steps you take can influence the evidence later. Focus on:
- Immediate medical care: follow the facility’s instructions and insist injuries are fully documented.
- Ask for the fall packet: request the incident report, fall risk assessment updates, shift notes, and the resident’s plan of care around the time of the fall.
- Preserve video and logs: if the facility has cameras or alarm systems, ask that footage and alarm/event logs be preserved.
- Write down the “before and after”: note what your loved one was doing right beforehand (walking, using the bathroom, transferring), who was nearby, and what staff said afterward.
Because California nursing homes operate with strict reporting and documentation expectations, delays—or missing records—can create avoidable hurdles. Early action helps prevent that.


