How Can Bedsores Affect a Person Who Experiences Nursing Home Neglect?

 Posted on August 13, 2021 in Nursing Home Negligence

While nursing homes can provide much-needed care and assistance for elderly people who are unable to fully care for themselves, nursing home residents are at risk of serious harm due to abuse and neglect. Patients can suffer multiple different types of injuries because of negligence by a nursing home and its staff members. Bedsores are some of the most serious health conditions that can occur. Family members should be aware of the ways that bedsores can affect a loved one in a nursing home. By working with a personal injury attorney, they can determine whether a facility can be held responsible for these types of injuries.

Types of Bedsores

Bedsores are also referred to as pressure ulcers, and they can occur when constant pressure is placed on certain parts of the body. This can cut off blood flow, resulting in damage to the skin, as well as the underlying tissues. Nursing home residents are at risk of bedsores if they are bedridden or if they stay in the same position for extended periods of time. Bedsores can form on the areas of the body that are in constant contact with a bed or other surface, such as the hips, buttocks, shoulder blades, or heels.

Bedsores progress through different stages:

• Stage 1 - Initially, the top layers of skin will be affected, resulting in discoloration and pain, as well as itching or burning sensations. These sores can be treated by ensuring that a person shifts positions regularly to relieve pressure on the areas of the body that were affected. With the proper relief, these sores will usually heal within a few days.

• Stage 2 - Without proper treatment, lower layers of skin may be affected, leading to open wounds, blisters, and swelling, as well as significant pain and discomfort. These sores can be treated by cleaning a wound and applying a bandage, and they may take multiple weeks to fully heal.

• Stage 3 - If left untreated, a sore may lead to damage to fatty tissue beneath the skin. These sores will look like a crater in the skin, and they may result in infections and the death of tissue surrounding the wound. Treatment will often include the administration of antibiotics and the removal of dead tissue, and sores may take several months to heal.

• Stage 4 - A severe bedsore may affect muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones, and a person is likely to experience serious infections. In some cases, surgery may be needed to repair the damage to the skin and the underlying tissue. Depending on the severity of the wound, these bedsores may take over a year to fully heal.

Contact Our Rolling Meadows Bedsore Injury Attorneys

Bedsores are a sign that a nursing home resident is not receiving the proper care, and they can lead to additional health complications that may threaten a person’s life or impact their overall well-being. If your loved one has experienced bedsores or other types of injuries, Newland & Newland, LLP can help you determine whether they suffered harm due to nursing home negligence, and we will work to help you recover compensation from those who were responsible. Contact our Schaumburg nursing home neglect lawyers by calling 847-797-8000 and setting up a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.aplaceformom.com/caregiver-resources/articles/elderly-bedsores

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/bedsores

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/pressure-sores-4-stages