Nursing Home Neglect: Bedsores, Pressure Sores, Decubitis Ulcers
Bedsores, which are also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers, are a serious health problem particularly for nursing home residents who are not ambulatory. Our South Jersey pressure sores attorneys represent nursing home residents and their families that have been affected by bedsores.
Bedsores develop in four stages:
- The skin turns red, feels spongy and warm
- The sore opens and looks like a blister and or cut
- The wound is deep into the tissue beneath the skin — looks like a crater
- There is large scale damage to the skin muscle and bones
What causes bedsores?
Bedsores are formed when continued pressure cuts off circulation to a part of the body and causes skin and underlying tissue to break down. The areas of the body most prone to bedsores are those in which bones have little protection from fat and muscle such as the hipbones, tailbone, shoulder blades and heels.
Why are they so common in nursing homes?
When people are confined to beds or wheelchairs for extended periods of time they are at high risk for bedsores if not properly treated. Bedridden people who are incontinent are at even greater risk. Skin breaks down more easily when it is constantly moist. Diabetes, circulation problems, dehydration and malnutrition are risk factors for pressure ulcers.
How can bedsores be prevented?
To prevent bedsores, nursing home staff members should turn or reposition bedridden patients every two hours. However, understaffing at nursing homes is the most common reason residents don't receive adequate care which leads to the formation of bedsores. Bedsores can form quickly and progress rapidly. If they become infected, they can be fatal.
What should I do if my loved one has developed a bedsore as a resident of a nursing home, hospital or assisted living facility?
You should call an experienced nursing home negligence attorney immediately because employees and medical professionals at these facilities have strict guidelines they must adhere to in order to prevent bedsores from occurring. Hiring an attorney to hold them financially accountable for their negligence will hopefully help prevent future acts of negligence from that facility. At Dansky | Katz | Ringold | York, our attorneys have successfully resolved numerous cases for clients with bedsores caused by nursing home negligence.
Contact Our South Jersey Pressure Sores Lawyers
If someone you love developed a bedsore while in a nursing home or died of complications from a pressure ulcer in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, please contact a New Jersey bedsores lawyer at our law firm today to arrange a free consultation and case evaluation.
More information about bedsores and how to treat them from the MayoClinic.com.
We represent clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including the South Jersey and Philadelphia areas.
