You might think people living in care homes would be safe and well looked after. But a new study shows that’s not always the case.
Researchers have found that between 1910 and 1967 in America, people living in public care facilities were almost twice as likely to suffer broken hips compared to those not in these institutions.
Even worse, many of these hip fractures led to preventable deaths.
The study was led by Madeleine Mant from the University of Toronto, along with Carlina de la Cova from the University of South Carolina and Megan Brickley from McMaster University.
They studied 600 skeletons stored at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. These remains belonged to people who were forgotten after death—many had no families or were too poor to afford a burial.
The results were alarming. About 4.3% of people from care facilities had hip fractures, while only 2.3% of the general population did.
These injuries often happened because of simple, preventable accidents—like falling from a wheelchair or tripping on a poorly maintained floor. In institutions where people were supposed to be cared for, a shocking 82% of fatal hip fractures occurred.
This study highlights two major problems. The first is something called ‘structural violence.’ This means the way these institutions were built and run—with too little money, poor upkeep, and not enough trained staff—was actually putting people in danger.
The second issue is ‘cultural apathy.’ This means that society didn’t care enough to make changes, even when problems were known.
And the problem isn’t just part of history. Madeleine Mant points out that similar issues still happen today, including in modern Canadian care homes.
When she shares her research, people often tell her about loved ones who had similar injuries or poor care in today’s facilities. Other countries like the Netherlands and Switzerland also report high fracture rates in care homes.
One heartbreaking case happened in Oakville, Ontario. A woman died in a nursing home with major fractures in both her thighs. Shockingly, no one could explain how it happened.
So what can we do? Mant says it’s time to wake up and take action. Care for vulnerable people shouldn’t be a luxury—it’s a basic human right. She believes we need to raise awareness and hold people accountable for poor conditions in care homes.
“We need to bring awareness to people who might not know about this and, honestly, shame those who have known and haven’t done anything so far,” she says.
This issue isn’t just about the past or just one country. It’s a global problem that affects all of us. We all deserve to grow old with dignity and safety.
If you care about pain management, please read studies about Scientists find a new drug for chronic nerve pain and findings of Scientists find a new, less-invasive way to tackle knee pain.
For more about pain, please read studies about Scientists find a new way to manage knee pain and findings of Promising new drug offers hope for chronic nerve pain relief.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
