The more time people spend in their beds or in sedentary positions, the greater the likelihood of them developing bedsores. Older adults are at especially high risk of these wounds, sometimes called pressure ulcers.
They develop due to the constant pressure of the body’s weight on specific points across the body, such as the back of the heels, under the buttocks and under the shoulders. Some people are naturally more prone to bedsore development than others. While nursing home employees’ efforts can prevent bedsore development for some residents, eliminating them entirely is an unrealistic goal for a facility.
When are bedsores potentially indicative of negligent care at a nursing home?
When they progress to the later stages of development
The earliest stage of a bedsore can develop within a few hours. Red, inflamed skin and painful tissue can be the result of staying in the same position for most of the day.
Nursing home workers can identify those who are at risk of bedsore development and can help them move. They can also intervene when bedsores start developing. Wounds that break the skin and begin to affect deeper tissue are often signs of negligent care standards.
Additionally, infected bedsores are largely preventable with close attention to the patient’s condition and regular hygiene support. Later-stage bedsores can cause medical challenges that require hospitalization. The infections they produce can even prove deadly in some cases.
Families who believe that poor care has contributed to a loved one’s bedsore development may have grounds to take legal action. Filing a nursing home negligence lawsuit could help families demand accountability from facilities that have not provided appropriate care.