Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Are Bedsores Signs of Nursing Home Neglect?
Bedsores are some of the most common sores that a person may get. These red marks may seem benign, but they can progress and become painful and infected. Nursing homes are required to provide proper care for their residents. If you pressure ulcers on your loved one you may wonder whether this is a sign of neglectful care in a nursing home.
What are Bedsores?
Bedsores are also called pressure ulcers or pressure sores. They are painful skin sores that occur due to rubbing, such as bed sheets that rub on a particular spot on the body. These sores happen most often on those who are bedridden or have limited mobility. When the body rests in one position for too long, the weight of your body presses on particular spots and cuts off circulation. Bedsores form and get worse when there is extended or repeated rubbing on the same spots. Some of the common areas to get pressure ulcers are on the head, tailbone, heels, hips, shoulder blades, arms, and legs.
How Serious are Bedsores?
Bedsores can be quite serious. If not properly cared for, bedsores can worsen and may even become life-threatening. There are four categories or stages of pressure sores based on their depth. Stage 1 pressure sores are red or may resemble a bruise. The skin is not broken. Stage 2 sores are red and may form a blister. Stage 3 bedsores go deeper below the skin and form a crater. Stage 4 pressure sores are deeper and the wound is open. Bedsores can get worse very quickly, especially if caregivers don’t provide proper care. If a bedsore gets infected, it can be dangerous and could even lead to a serious bacterial infection called sepsis.
Preventing Bedsores
Bedsores can typically be prevented and if you already have a bedsore, proper care can keep it from getting worse. Caregivers must be trained to watch for bedsores in their patients. Pressure ulcers are much easier to treat during the first stage. Care providers must move and turn bedbound patients on a regular basis. When a person is immobile they can easily form bedsores. The patient must be moved in ways that will minimize repeated contact with sheets, bedding, and medical equipment. If a bedsore is found, medical treatment should be sought immediately.
Can We Sue a Nursing Home for Neglect?
Families of elderly nursing home patients often wonder what, if anything, they can do if a loved one was injured or died as a result of neglect. Nursing homes are ultimately responsible for providing an expected level of care to residents. A nursing home may be neglectful if they did not properly care for bedsores or if they failed to notice them in a timely manner. They may also be neglectful if they saw pressure ulcers but didn’t seek medical evaluation and treatment.
If you find that your loved one is suffering with pressure ulcers, you may need to take legal action. Talk to t our legal team at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to learn what options are available to your family.
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Source:
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/pressure-sores-4-stages
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sepsis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351214
See Our Related Video from our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArnoldSmithPLLC/videos
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