What Are Bedsores and How Do They Happen?
Bedsores are not necessarily a sign of nursing home neglect, but they can be. These sores (also known as “decubitus ulcers” or “pressure ulcers”) typically develop on bony areas of the body that experience greater external pressure when lying down. Such ulcers tend to develop on the:
- Ankles
- Back
- Back of the head
- Buttocks
- Elbows
- Heels
- Hip bones
- Shoulder blades
When someone has spent a great deal of time in a prone or seated position without getting up to move, the tissue underneath bedsores becomes damaged. People with serious, immobilizing conditions are at greater risk of developing such wounds because of their inability to transfer, move around, or take part in non-sedentary activities. However, nursing home caretakers play an important role in preventing bedsores.
Can Nursing Home Staff Prevent Bedsores?
Generally speaking, bedsores can be avoided by regularly repositioning, moving around, and relieving or redistributing pressure. If your loved one is unable to move or reposition independently, preventing bedsores can still be prevented with the assistance of a qualified caregiver. Nursing home caregivers are required to be attentive to residents’ needs and prevent serious injuries and complications where possible.
When bedsores worsen and create new problems under nursing home staff supervision, this could amount to nursing home abuse.
The health consequences are severe when nursing home staff are not attentive enough to be aware of developing ulcers or when they fail to help mobility-impaired residents transfer, turn over, or otherwise redistribute continual pressure on their heels, shoulder blades, etc. As bed sores get worse they tend to cause a number of problems, including:
- Squamous cell carcinoma (skin cancer)
- Cartilage and tissue damage
- Infections of the skin, joints, and bones
- Further-reduced mobility, which can indirectly lead to pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis, and other debilitating, potentially deadly problems
Aside from the misery of living with pressure ulcers, they can create the need for additional medical treatment, which can place an undue financial burden on nursing home residents and their families. This is especially unfair to individuals and families who are already pouring capital into residential care for an aging loved one. If this has happened to you or someone you love, you may need to take legal action to hold the nursing home accountable for their negligent care.
Compassionate Legal Representation for Seniors, Guardians, and Families in Greenville
Our team at Christian & Christian believes in providing strong, effective legal representation for people like you. It is our collective mission to work toward the common good of Greenville’s aging adults and their families and crack down on anyone who takes advantage of vulnerable nursing home residents by providing inadequate care. With more than 100 years of collective experience, our Greenville nursing home abuse lawyers are here to serve you and your loved ones and help you work toward a positive outcome.
Contact us online or call (864) 408-8883 to schedule your complimentary consultation with a nursing home abuse attorney.