Bed Sores and Nursing Home Neglect

 Posted on July 14, 2024 in Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

When you leave your loved one in a nursing home, you expect him or her to receive quality care throughout his or her time in the facility. However, this does not always happen, and more nursing homes these days are being evaluated for the substandard care they provide residents. One of the most notable ways that nursing home neglect is evident is in the formation of bed sores, also called pressure wounds, on your loved one.

If your family member has experienced bed sores in a nursing home facility, she or he may be suffering from neglectful care. A knowledgeable Illinois nursing home neglect attorney can help you explore your legal options.

What Are Bed Sores?

Bed sores are wounds that form on the body, typically in bony areas where there is less muscle or body tissue to act as a buffer, when consistent pressure is applied to that area of the body. The pressure restricts blood flow, and the skin around the affected area dies. In turn, this causes an open wound and can lead to a number of complications such as infection, pain, amputations, and even fatalities if the bed sore is not treated properly.

The most common areas for bed sores to appear on the body include the hips, back, shoulder blades, ears, neck, arms, and legs.

Are Bed Sores a Sign of Nursing Home Neglect?

While bed sores may sometimes appear even with proper care, the reality is that multiple bed sores or repeated issues with bed sores indicate neglectful care of nursing home residents. In order for bed sores to form, an individual must stay in a certain position for an extended length of time.

In a nursing home, this can easily occur as many residents lack full mobility, and some residents may be bedridden. If nursing home staff do not adjust the position of someone lying in a bed or sitting in a chair, or if they neglect to help residents move around to reduce the risk of bed sores, they may be found liable for providing negligent care.

Additionally, when nursing home staff fail to change sheets or a resident’s clothing, or neglect proper meals and hydration, they can increase risk factors for bed sores and contribute to these wounds forming on residents.

Contact a Rockford, IL Nursing Home Neglect Attorney

Nursing homes have a duty to provide proper care for residents, including preventing the formation of bed sores. When this does not happen, residents and their loved ones suffer.

If you suspect that nursing home neglect has left your loved one with bed sores, you will need a skilled Winnebago County, IL nursing home neglect lawyer to help you pursue a case. Our attorneys at Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Jambois, will advocate for you and your elderly family member and work to hold the neglectful nursing home accountable.

Call 815-215-7561 for a free consultation.