After a fall, facilities often document quickly—then details get harder to obtain later. Your fastest path to protecting evidence is to act early.
Do this right away:
- Ask for the incident report and a copy of any fall risk assessment created around the time of the event.
- Request the care plan in effect at the time of the fall and any updates made afterward.
- If a resident was taken to the ER or urgent care, request hospital paperwork (diagnosis, imaging results, discharge instructions).
- Ask whether alarms, supervision levels, and transfer assistance were in place—and whether they were followed.
- If the facility uses cameras in hallways or common areas, ask about video preservation (retention can be limited).
Why this matters in Michigan: nursing home disputes often turn on what was known before the fall—what the staff documented about risk, mobility, and supervision needs, and how the facility responded when that risk showed up.


