Bed sores are what they sound like: open wounds that develop on the skin when you’re confined to a bed for long periods of time. If your loved one developed bedsores in a California nursing home, please contact our office today to speak with a qualified nursing home abuse lawyer Piedmont California at 510-271-6720.
Bed sores can be caused by a variety of factors, including excessive pressure on bony parts of your body, like hips and heels. Sometimes bed sores develop because there’s too much moisture in your skin or because you’re not moving enough. They are a serious health condition that can lead to infections and even death if left untreated.
How common are bedsores in nursing homes?
Unfortunately, there are nursing homes throughout California with a high rate of bedsores. According to the CDC, about 11% of nursing home residents have bedsores. They often occur on the buttocks, heels of the feet, shoulder blades, the back of the head, and the backs and sides of the knees. There are four stages of bedsores, stage 1 being the least severe and stage 4 being the most severe. Stage 2 was the most common, accounting for about 50% of all pressure ulcers.
Bed sores are preventable, and when nursing homes that follow proper protocols and procedures, their residents are at lower risk for bedsores. Nursing home staff should attend to immobile patients on a regular basis and ensure they are switching positions or rotating to avoid the development of pressure ulcers.
If your family member has developed bedsores due to abuse or neglect in a nursing home, you may have a personal injury claim. The nursing home abuse lawyer Piedmont California will help you pursue your claim and pursue justice.
Who is at risk of developing bedsores?
Elderly people who are immobile are at risk of developing bed sores. Those most at risk include: people with poor circulation, people who are bedridden, people with diabetes, patients with Parkinson’s disease or ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), and those who are immobile due to stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis or other physical disabilities.
These particular patients are more prone to bedsores because they are sitting in one position for a long time, have circulation issues, or need help to get around. While many facilities provide quality care, when neglect or abuse occurs, bedsores can develop in their patients. If you suspect that your loved one has developed a bed sore, contact our experienced nursing home abuse lawyer Piedmont California for a consultation.
The four stages of bed sores
Bed sores are divided into 4 stages, from least severe to most severe. When bedsores occur due to abuse or neglect in a nursing home, you need a nursing home abuse lawyer Piedmont California to pursue your personal injury claim. The stages to look out for are:
- Stage 1 – The area looks red and feels warm to the touch. With darker skin, the area may have a blue or purple tint. The person may also complain that it burns, hurts, or itches.
- Stage 2 – The area looks more damaged and may have an open sore, scrape, or blister. The person complains of significant pain and the skin around the wound may be discolored.
- Stage 3 – The area has a crater-like appearance due to damage below the skin’s surface.
- Stage 4 – The area is severely damaged and a large wound is present. Muscles, tendons, bones, and joints can be involved. Infection is a significant risk at this stage.
If you have bedsores and don’t receive treatment quickly enough, they can lead to serious complications like infections that spread through your bloodstream or blood poisoning (sepsis). You may need to seek medical attention immediately if the sores look like the descriptions from stages 2 – 4. It is also important to contact the authorities if you suspect abuse or neglect has occurred.
Contact our nursing home abuse lawyer Piedmont California for a consultation about your claim
If your loved one has bed sores, there are some important steps you should take. First, review any medical records available from doctors treating your loved one after he/she returned home from hospitalization or rehabilitation at a nursing home facility.
Second, contact both local law enforcement authorities and state agencies such as the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) when reviewing these records; they may have further information regarding any incidents involving abuse or neglect at an Illinois nursing home facility where you suspect your family member resided while recovering from an illness/injury sustained elsewhere (such as hospitalization).
Third, if you discover evidence that suggests that negligence contributed directly toward causing harm to yourself or someone else in your care, contact our nursing home abuse lawyer Piedmont California immediately so we may begin investigating how best to protect everyone involved through legal action against those responsible for causing harm without justification.
We will review the facts of your case and determine if the nursing home is liable for this type of injury. The attorneys at Siegal & Richardson can help ensure that you are compensated fully and fairly.
