Bedsores in Nursing Homes Lawyers

Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers, are preventable if proper and preventative care is taken by nursing home staff. When a resident spends an extended amount of time in one position—whether in bed, on a couch, or in a wheelchair—the risk of developing bedsores is significant. To prevent lesions, residents should not remain in a sedentary position for an extended period of time. Residents should be encouraged to move around and shift positions every few hours; however, for many nursing home residents, assistance is required to reposition themselves in their beds and chairs.

Nursing home caregivers should be well-versed in the techniques necessary to prevent bedsores, including:

• Repositioning, relocating, or off-loading;
• Helping residents lie at a 30-degree angle, which reduces pressure on susceptible areas;
• Using pressure-relieving devices such as pillows or foam padding;
• Ensuring dry bedding and clothing;
• Checking on residents daily; and
• Keeping an eye on patients who are at a higher risk of forming the lesions.

A nursing home and/or its employees may be considered negligent if they fail to monitor residents, fail to assist residents in repositioning, or fail to help residents with limited or no mobility. If a resident develops bedsores as a result of this negligence, the nursing home may be liable for any resulting injuries.

Bedsores are characterized in four stages:

• Stage One: The sores have developed but are not yet open wounds. Though an individual may feel pain, there are typically no breaks or tears in the reddened skin. Additionally, the skin may lose color when pressing a finger to it. A sign of further pressure ulcer development can be warm skin temperature as well as feeling softer or firmer around the affected area.
• Stage Two: The skin around the sores may break open, wear away, or form a painful ulcer. At this stage, the sore deepens into the skin and can look like a scrape, blister, or crater. It is possible for skin at this stage to be damaged beyond repair or die.
• Stage Three: The sore continues to worsen as it extends into the soft tissue underneath the skin, forming a small crater.
• Stage Four: The most severe type of skin ulcer, a pressure sore is very deep, often reaching into muscle and bone, causing irreversible harm. In many instances, an individual may not feel pain because the tissue in an area has been so badly damaged.

According to some studies, roughly 25 percent of nursing home residents will experience pressure sores at some point. Since nursing home residents have a greater chance of developing bedsores, staff members should take extra caution when caring for these individuals. Employees must be aware of the risk factors which may make residents susceptible to pressure sores:

• Residents over the age of 75;
• Residents who cannot feed themselves;
• Residents who cannot reposition themselves due to restraints or limited mobility;
• Underweight residents;
• Individuals with dry or rough skin;
• Residents who are incontinent or have decreased mental ability;
• Residents with serious medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer and multiple sclerosis;
• Skin dampness from incontinence or sweat;
• Malnutrition;
• Dehydration;
• Friction caused by turns, lifting, or pushing a resident too rapidly;
• Shear resulting from a resident sliding down in a bed or chair or from being positioned incorrectly; and
• Peripheral vascular disease.

If your loved one has developed bedsores while in a nursing home, please fill out our no charge case review form to learn more about how our attorneys may be able to help you.