Falls among residents remain far and away the largest source of insurance claims against both long-term care and senior living providers, significantly outstripping other common categories such as improper wound care, abuse, and infections, the latest edition of a cross-industry survey has found.

Among LTC providers, the 1,840 claims for resident falls accounted for 46.9% of all closed claims over the last 10 years, according to the 2024 General and Professional Liability Benchmark Report from professional services firm March McLennan — accounting for more than $448 million in total payouts.

For comparison, skin and wound injuries represented the second-largest claim category (20%) for LTC operators, with a price tag of $220 million, followed by infections at 11.8% or $153 million.

The proportion was even greater for senior living providers, with resident falls accounting for 70.9% of the total, or nearly $200 million in total claims. Abuse claims came in a distant second at 7.4% and $33.6 million; skin and wound injuries were third at 4.8% and $17.3 million.

Providers must employ comprehensive strategies to reduce the risk of fall claims, the report authors noted.

“Even though providers devote a significant amount of time and resources to programs and systems to help mitigate falls in their communities, it is widely acknowledged by health care agencies and governmental services across the country that elderly individuals living in any type of housing are at risk for falls,” the authors observed. “Outside of well-developed programs that include robust assessments and even the use of artificial intelligence, providers can also look at enhancing their communication by having candid conversations about the risk of falls with prospects, families, and residents.”