Untreated bed sores are a clear sign of nursing home abuse and merit legal action.
If your loved one has developed bed sores while in the care of a nursing home, you need to take action. Though nursing home workers may try to downplay the seriousness of the situation or convince you that bed sores are unavoidable for bedridden patients, the fact of the matter is:
Bed sores are a common sign of nursing home abuse.
Your loved one deserves better care, and Michael L. Kahn can help you secure the compensation needed to pay for it via a nursing home abuse lawsuit.
How Bed Sores Form
Bed sores are caused by the pressure of a person’s own body bearing down on their tissues over an extended period of time, cutting off the blood flow, causing tissue to die, and eventually creating a wound. Sores are particularly likely to develop in areas where there is very little fat or muscle to compensate for the weight of bone. Common examples include the back of the head, along the spine, the heels, and the buttocks. Even if a nursing home resident is not technically bedridden, they may still develop pressure sores if they are left sitting in a wheelchair for too long and lack the ability to shift their body position on their own.
Bed Sores Can Have Serious Consequences
When combined with other types of neglect such as failing to provide adequate nutrition, hydration, and hygiene, bed sores can quickly develop into extremely serious medical problems. The sores may become infected, possibly leading to the need for an amputation or even the death of the patient.
Bed Sores Are Preventable
The truly sad thing about bed sores is that they are entirely preventable—and prevention isn’t exactly rocket science. Basically, all it takes is paying attention to the elder and seeing that they:
- Are moved at consistent intervals
- Stay hydrated
- Eat enough to maintain a healthy weight
- Receive assistance with hygiene
- Get treatment for any sores that may have begun developing
High-risk individuals may also benefit from having special cushions or mattresses to rest on.
Nursing Homes Have a Duty of Care
The activities required to prevent and/or treat bed sores are entirely within the scope of responsibility of the nursing home. When employees neglect patients by failing to move them, feed them, or clean them, they have committed nursing home abuse. It does not matter if they were not trained properly or if the facility is understaffed—their failure is the nursing home’s responsibility.
You Can Get Compensation for Your Loved One
If your loved one has been seriously injured or even died as a result of nursing home negligence, you deserve compensation for your family’s pain and suffering. But because the nursing home may be very reluctant to admit fault, you need to get a skilled personal injury attorney on your side. Michael A. Kahn makes an excellent choice. He has handled many nursing home abuse and negligence cases and he will fight aggressively for the facility to be held responsible for their actions.
