The call comes while you’re at work. Your father has a swollen wrist. The aide thinks he may have fallen, but the nurse mentions a bedrail. Neither seems certain. When you arrive, he’s holding his hand against his chest, and nobody can tell you exactly when the swelling started.

Accidents happen, including in well-run nursing homes. What makes a situation like this troubling is the uncertainty surrounding it. Your father is hurt, the explanations don’t match, and you’re left wondering what else the staff might have missed.

1. Make Sure the Injury Has Been Properly Examined

Before getting caught up in conflicting stories, find out what medical care your loved one has received.

A swollen wrist might be a sprain. It could also be broken. Has a doctor examined it? Was an X-ray ordered? If your father is still in pain, what’s being done to help?

Some injuries aren’t immediately obvious. For instance, head injuries in older adults can cause confusion, dizziness, or unusual sleepiness that staff might mistake for an existing condition.

Don’t wait for the nursing home to explain an incident before seeking medical attention. Suspected head injuries need prompt assessment, while severe symptoms require emergency care.

2. Ask What Staff Actually Know, Not What They Think Happened

There’s a difference between someone saying your father probably lost his balance and explaining when he was last seen walking normally.

Ask who discovered the injury, where your father was at the time, and whether anyone witnessed an incident. Find out when the nurse was notified and what happened afterward.

You may get different answers from people who worked different shifts. That doesn’t necessarily mean anyone is hiding something. Still, if nobody can establish even a rough timeline, ask the nursing supervisor to look into it.

Take notes during these conversations. Names, times, and a few direct quotes are more useful than trying to reconstruct everything from memory a week later.

3. Keep a Record of What You See

Photograph the injury, with your loved one’s permission when possible. Bruises change color, swelling goes down, and cuts heal. A picture taken today may show something that isn’t visible next week.

Save messages from the nursing home alongside medical reports and appointment notes. If your father starts avoiding his usual activities because of pain, write that down as well.

There’s no need to turn every visit into an investigation. A notebook with dates and short observations is enough to capture details that might otherwise get lost.

4. Look at the Care He Was Supposed to Receive

Every resident has different needs. One person can walk independently, while another needs two staff members to help them out of bed.

Ask to review the care plan and injury-related records you’re authorized to access. If your father requires assistance when standing, was someone there to help him? If he’s had previous falls, what precautions were supposed to prevent another one?

Pay attention to the gap between what’s written and what staff describe doing.

A care plan won’t tell you exactly how an unwitnessed injury occurred. It can, however, help you understand whether the nursing home was following its own arrangements for keeping your loved one safe.

5. Pay Attention to Changes That Staff Might Overlook

Your father may remember only part of what happened. Let him describe it without suggesting an answer. Asking, “What do you remember about yesterday afternoon?” is more useful than asking whether somebody dropped him.

His behavior may offer clues as well.

Perhaps he used to enjoy walking to the dining room but now refuses to leave his room. Maybe he grows anxious before certain activities. Relatives familiar with his daily routines and social activities may be the first to notice.

None of these changes proves neglect. They’re reasons to ask more questions, particularly if unexplained injuries have happened before.

6. Take Your Concerns Beyond the Nursing Staff

If you’ve spoken with several employees and still have no clear answers, contact the administrator.

Explain your concerns about unexplained injuries in nursing homes, including any contradictions you’ve noticed. Ask for a written response detailing the injury, the facility’s investigation, and any precautions introduced afterward.

If the answers remain unclear, you can report suspected neglect to the state agency responsible for nursing home oversight. A local Long-Term Care Ombudsman can also help residents and families address concerns about care and residents’ rights.

You don’t have to settle for an explanation that keeps changing. And if your loved one is in immediate danger, emergency assistance should come before any complaint process.

7. Consider Legal Advice When Questions Remain Unanswered

An unexplained injury doesn’t necessarily mean the nursing home was negligent. But repeated falls, missing records, or staff ignoring known risks can raise more serious concerns.

For example, consider a nursing home in Chicago where a resident has suffered two unexplained falls. Her family has asked what happened several times but still doesn’t know whether staff followed her care plan.

In a case like this, Chicago Nursing Home Law Center lawyers could review the circumstances and help the family understand whether there’s a potential negligence claim.

Seeking legal advice doesn’t mean the family has decided to sue. They may simply want to know whether the nursing home failed to provide the care their loved one needed.

A Clear Account Matters

You may never find out exactly how an unwitnessed injury happened. That uncertainty can be frustrating, especially when it’s someone you love who’s been hurt.

But the nursing home should still be able to explain when the injury was discovered, how staff responded, and what they’re doing to reduce the risk of it happening again.

Those aren’t unreasonable questions. They’re part of making sure your loved one receives the care they depend on.