You’d think people living in care facilities would receive the safest and best care, but history tells a different story.
A recent study has revealed that individuals in public care homes in the United States from 1910 to 1967 faced nearly double the risk of hip fractures compared to those living outside such institutions. Even more troubling, many of these fractures led to preventable deaths.
The study, conducted by researchers Madeleine Mant from the University of Toronto, Carlina de la Cova from the University of South Carolina, and Megan Brickley from McMaster University, highlights a darker side of care facilities that were meant to protect the vulnerable.
The team examined 600 skeletal remains housed at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. These remains belonged to people whose families either couldn’t afford a proper burial or had no family to care for them.
The findings paint a grim picture. Among those in care facilities, 4.3% had suffered hip fractures, compared to 2.3% in the general population. While the difference may seem small, it reflects a significant pattern of neglect.
Many fractures were caused by preventable accidents, such as falling from a wheelchair or tripping over uneven floors. Worse still, the study revealed that 82% of these fractures in care homes led to deaths.
The researchers point to two major problems. First is “structural violence.” This term refers to how the very design and management of these institutions—often underfunded, poorly maintained, and inadequately staffed—contributed to harm.
Second is “cultural apathy,” a widespread lack of concern for the well-being of care home residents. Both issues underline a societal failure to prioritize the safety and dignity of some of its most vulnerable members.
Although this study focused on the past, its findings are not confined to history. Madeleine Mant emphasizes that similar issues still exist today, including in modern Canadian care homes.
Her research has resonated with people who share stories of family members experiencing neglect or injury in nursing homes.
This isn’t just a North American issue. Other countries, such as the Netherlands and Switzerland, have also reported high rates of fractures in care facilities.
A particularly shocking Canadian case involved a woman in Oakville, Ontario, who died with severe fractures in both thighs. No one in her nursing home could explain how the injuries occurred.
The study serves as a wake-up call, urging society to rethink how care facilities operate. Mant stresses that providing proper care isn’t just a matter of kindness—it’s a basic human right.
She hopes the findings will push for better standards and stronger accountability in these institutions. “We need to bring awareness to this issue and demand change,” she says.
Neglect in care facilities isn’t just a problem of the past or a local issue. It’s a global challenge that continues to affect countless lives. Improving care for the elderly and vulnerable is not only a moral obligation but an urgent necessity.
The study was published in PLOS ONE and highlights the importance of addressing preventable health risks in care facilities worldwide.
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