According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bedsores occur in more than 1 in 10 residents in nursing homes. Bedsores involve damage to the skin and underlying soft tissue due to prolonged pressure that can develop quickly and can be difficult to treat. If not treated immediately, bedsores may cause serious health concerns.
With this in mind, it emphasizes the importance of preventing bedsores rather than treating them with surgery or other methods. Medical facilities should -and can be held responsible for these preventable wounds. If your loved one develops bedsores in a nursing home or assisted living, you should seek legal advice from one of our attorneys.
The human body is used to being in constant movement, even when one is sleeping. However, when someone goes under surgery, has a spinal cord injury, or illness that reduces mobility in seniors, movements are reduced.
The following are the most common main causes of bedsores in seniors:
Some of the most common signs and symptoms of bedsores include:
The good thing is that bedsores are preventable by moving the patients regularly. Nursing homes are required to reposition bedridden patients every two hours to prevent bedsore.
When you first bring your loved one to a nursing home, an assessment is done to evaluate the resident’s risk for developing bedsores. If the residents at risk of developing bedsores, the resident’s care plan should include bedsore prevention, with a plan that addresses the considerations such as the resident’s hydration, hygiene, and nutrition.
People who are paralyzed or have severe mobility issues may be unable to move even subtly to allow increased blood flow to compressed areas. With this in mind, seniors with limited mobility are most likely to develop bedsores because of the thinning of the skin, loss of elasticity, and becoming more fragile with age. In addition, perspiration from a fever or moisture from incontinence issues can also make senior skin weaker and more prone to irritation.
High-risk areas include:
Bedsores progress rapidly without the appropriate care and can take days, months, or years to heal. In addition, there is a chance of it becoming infected, causing fevers and chills. If the infection were to spread through your body, it might cause mental confusion, generalized weakness, and a fast heartbeat.
Bedsore can develop through different stages if not properly treated. It is important to recognize what stage your loved one is in if you plan on pursuing a lawsuit. The different types of bedsore stages include:
You may be able to recuperate damages for the following things:
If your loved one has developed and is suffering from bedsores, contact our office today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal options. It is important to hold nursing homes accountable for the effects of their neglect of our loved ones. We care, and we can help.
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