Nursing Home Neglect: Bedsores, Pressure Sores, Decubitis Ulcers
Bedsores, which are also known as pressure sores or decubitis ulcers, are a serious health problem particularly for nursing home residents who are not ambulatory.
Bedsores develop in four stages:
- The skin turns red, feels spongey 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 bed sores 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 a bed or wheelchair 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 dont 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 neglicence attorney immediately because employees and medical professionals at these facilities have strict guidlines they must adhere to in order to prevent bed sores from occuring. 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. 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 our law firm today to arrange a free consultation and case evaluation.
More information about bed sores and how to treat them from the MayoClinic.com website
We represent clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including the South Jersey and Philadelphia areas.
