However, failure to appropriately intervene and stop a bedsore from developing may lead to complications that can be fatal, especially for patients with weak immune systems like the elderly. If you or a loved one has developed bedsores due to negligence, you may be eligible for compensation.
Learn more about your available legal options by speaking with a West Virginia nursing home abuse lawyer. Pressure ulcers are serious medical conditions that require prompt medical intervention. Without appropriate treatment, they may lead to one of the conditions listed above. Often, nursing home negligence plays a role in the development of these serious and potentially fatal complications from bedsores.
Lack of surveillance may allow these wounds to progress to the most serious stages. The only way to be certain about whether you have a personal injury case is to talk to an experienced accident Compensation for your injuries depends on several factors, including the extent of your injuries, physical Before accepting a settlement, it is always in your best interest to consult an attorney.
Adjusters work for Many injury claims can be settled for their full value through negotiation, mediation or arbitration, without You should consult an attorney as soon as possible after being injured.
Bedsores are also known as pressure sores, pressure ulcers, and decubitus ulcers. They form when there is unrelieved pressure on the skin—especially when an individual is sedentary, wheelchair-bound, or bed-bound. The pressure put on the skin can interfere with circulation, which deprives skin of oxygen and nutrients. These painful skin lesions can develop quickly, can be difficult to get rid of, and can be very dangerous.
Nursing homes often defend claims of negligence by arguing that the bedsores were not preventable or that the bedsores are actually deep tissue injuries sustained long before the patient was ever in their facilities and that they just now, by chance, have come to the surface of the skin to be seen.
Most of the time this is just not true. More often than not, pressure ulcers or bed sores that develop or appear in a nursing home or hospital are the result of negligent care.
The most likely victims of bedsores are people who have medical conditions that limit their ability to change position, that make it necessary for them to use wheelchairs, or that confine them to bed for extended periods of time. Some specific factors that make bedsores more likely include:.
While these factors make bedsores more likely, nursing home staff can take reasonable steps to prevent bedsores from developing. Bedsore prevention starts as soon as a resident moves into a nursing home. For example, nursing home staff may complete:. These assessments can provide specific information that is useful in protecting the nursing home resident from painful and potentially deadly bedsores.
After the initial assessment is done, nursing home staff must take further action to prevent bedsores. Specifically, staff members may…. Nursing home staff may be liable for bedsores if they do not act with reasonable care to prevent them. Some of the ways this could happen are if:. There are serious complications that can develop when bedsores are not properly treated, including…. If you notice any potential sign of a bedsore such as broken skin, open sores or signs of infection such as fever, a bad smell, or heat or redness in a localized area of the body, then it is important to get immediate medical help for your loved one.
Prompt treatment could prevent the types of complications described above. Bedsores may be prevented with proper care—and if your loved one sustained a bedsore in a Kentucky nursing home, you may have a case for negligence. Nursing home may try to argue that bedsores were not caused by staff negligence but rather because the resident had a health complication, the resident was not complaint in treatment of the bedsores, or the resident came to the facility with a pre-existing bedsore.
This is why you need strong legal representation working on your side. How you proceed now is up to you. If you would like to speak with our experienced nursing home injury lawyers about your options, please start a live chat with us today.
We would be pleased to provide you with a free, no obligation consultation about your legal rights and possible recovery. If you believe your loved one is being subjected to nursing home abuse you need to speak with an experienced Kentucky nursing home neglect attorney as soon as possible.
Contact us online or call our office directly at Identifying Bedsores Not all bedsores are the same. Bedsores develop in the following stages: Stage I: Non-blanchable erythema of intact skin. Stage 1 bedsores may present as red skin that might itch, hurt, or feel warm to the touch.
This may appear differently in darker pigmented skin. Changes in sensation, temperature or firmness may precede any visual changes. It may feel warm to the touch. It may burn, hurt, or itch. The pressure sore may look blue or purple in people who have dark skin. Stage 2. During this stage, the area is more damaged. The sore may be open. It may look like a cut or blister.
The skin around the sore may be discolored. The sore is painful. Stage 3. During this stage, the sore will have a crater-like look. This is due to increased damage below the surface.
This makes the wound deeper. Stage 4. This is the most serious stage. Skin and tissue are severely damaged. The sore becomes a large wound. Infection is possible. Signs of infection at the site include: Thick, yellow, or green pus A bad smell coming from the sore Redness or skin that is warm to the touch Swelling around the sore Tenderness around the sore Signs that the infection has spread include: Fever Chills Confusion or difficulty concentrating Rapid heartbeat Weakness.
What causes pressure sores? How are pressure sores diagnosed? Can pressure sores be prevented or avoided? Lastly, if you smoke, quit. Smoking increases your risk of pressure sores. Pressure sores treatment Treatment depends on the seriousness of the sore.
Other things that can help include: Move often. When in bed, change your position at least every 2 hours. Ask for help, if needed. Use foam pads or pillows to take pressure off the sore. Special mattresses, mattress covers, foam wedges, or seat cushions provide support in bed or in a chair.
It can help to use pillows under one side so that your weight rests on the fatty part of your buttocks instead of on your hip bone. Sit upright and straight when sitting in a chair or wheelchair. This allows you to move more easily and help prevent new sores. Improve your nutrition.
This helps heal the sores. Maintain good hygiene. Stage 1 sores can be cleaned with mild soap and water. Clean stage 2 sores with a salt and water solution. The saltwater removes extra fluid and loose material. Your doctor or nurse can show you how to clean stage 1 and 2 pressure sores. Your doctor or nurse will likely need to clean stage 3 and 4 pressure sores because of their seriousness.
Living with pressure sores Living with pressure sores requires a plan to move and turn frequently. Questions for your doctor What should I do if I or a loved one has pressure sores and is too heavy to move? Does an adjustable bed help reduce the risk of pressure sores? Can you die from an infected pressure sore? Is diabetic foot ulcer the same as a pressure sore? Can you get pressure sores from sitting in the same position in your job for longer than 2 hours at a time? Last Updated: November 4, This article was contributed by: familydoctor.
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