July 10, 2022 Uncategorized
Bedsores are a painful injury caused by prolonged pressure on the skin, particularly on bony areas like ankles or hips. They are also very often preventable.
A properly run nursing home can generally catch bedsores in their very early stages or even prevent bedsores with regular care and monitoring. Bedsore prevention strategies are one of the most basic things a home should provide for residents, so bedsores are often a clear sign of nursing home neglect. Attorneys in Illinois for nursing home abuse help families act when warning signs appear.
Are Bedsores Avoidable?
Bedsores, otherwise known as pressure ulcers, are typically caused by a resident’s lack of mobility. They are essentially damaged tissue just beneath the upper-epidermal layer of skin. They are avoidable in many cases because, for most residents, all it takes to prevent them is diligent monitoring and care.
In cases where bedsores are unavoidable—for example, if a resident arrives with a wound already on the verge of becoming a bedsore—the nursing home must have protocols in place to treat these injuries quickly. Bedsores can quickly worsen into a chronic or life-threatening condition. It is vital for staff to apply appropriate treatment at the earliest possible stage.
Nursing homes will sometimes claim that a bedsore was unavoidable even if they did nothing to prevent it, blaming the wound on a resident’s preexisting condition or some other factor. It is a good idea to let our nursing home neglect lawyer investigate your case to determine the truth.
Common Causes of Nursing Home Neglect
In some cases, the reason for nursing home neglect may be nefarious in nature. However, the overwhelming reasons behind nursing home neglect in the United States stem from inadequately staffed nursing homes or improperly trained staff. Neither reason is justifiable.
Nursing homes sometimes deliberately understaff the facility to save money. In other cases, there is high turnover at facilities due to low pay or poor working conditions. Either way, the results can be devastating for residents when there are not enough trained staff members to:
- Conduct physical examinations to detect signs of bedsores early
- Reposition residents carefully and on a regular basis
- Administer bedsore treatment correctly
- Keep residents clean and dry
Residents May Not Be Able to Report Bedsores or Neglect
In many situations, nursing home residents have mental or physical limits that prevent them from speaking up about abuse. Some fear retaliation from staff. Others believe neglect is normal.
As a family advocate, you need to watch closely for pressure ulcers or bedsores, which often signal neglect. If you suspect mistreatment or poor care, you have options.
Risk Factors for Pressure Ulcers
Pressure ulcers are caused when a certain area of the body is under pressure for a prolonged amount of time. This typically happens when a patient at a nursing home is in their bed far too often or not appropriately repositioned by the staff. Those that cannot move or have severely limited mobility are most at risk of developing pressure ulcers/bedsores.
These types of injuries typically happen in the following areas:
- Those Lying Down for Prolonged Periods of Time: Bedsores often manifest around a resident’s hips, lower back, buttocks, or heels. It is important that they are rotated and/or helped to get up (if possible) to relieve prolonged pressure.
- Those Seated or in a Wheelchair: Residents who use wheelchairs may show signs of pressure ulcers around their feet and ankles if their shoes are not removed or on their buttocks from the constant pressure of being seated throughout the day.
Other risk factors include certain medical conditions, such as diabetes. Fragile skin also increases the risk of pressure ulcers. While the skin naturally becomes more delicate as people age, malnutrition and dehydration can make it worse. So can persistently damp conditions, like if the resident is incontinent and the staff does not clean them right away.
When a resident presents with these or other risk factors, it is the nursing facility’s job to take additional measures to protect them. This may include performing more frequent examinations or repositioning the resident more often.
What to Do if Your Loved One Has Bedsores
Bedsores can absolutely be prevented. They are not inevitable. While they can happen in some cases for reasons other than nursing home neglect, if you notice them occurring or not being properly treated, it may be time to seek legal help.
Technology allows us to easily communicate with family by phone and with video messages, but the only way to ensure that your loved one is being properly taken care of is to physically visit them. If you notice pressure ulcers:
- Ask the nursing home staff about the reason for the bedsores.
- If their explanation is not satisfactory or the ulcers are occurring too often, remove your loved one from that situation as soon as you can.
- Take your loved one to a doctor you trust to treat the bedsore and prevent others from developing.
Once you are sure your loved one is out of immediate danger, you can contact our attorney. Pressure ulcers, especially the more serious ones, can be expensive to treat, and you may also be facing other expenses, like the cost of relocating your loved one to a new facility. You are entitled to the chance to seek reimbursement for these expenses by holding the nursing home accountable.
Protecting Your Loved Ones by Understanding Your Rights
If you believe that your family member has been neglected in a nursing home, give the The Rooth Law Firm a call and get a free consultation today. With over 40 years of experience, our legal team knows what it takes to protect your loved one. If their bedsores are a sign of nursing home neglect, we can fight for the justice your family deserves.
ILLINOIS NURSING HOME ABUSE LAWYER
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