Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Bedsores May Indicate Nursing Home Neglect
Nothing is more heartbreaking than to learn that your elderly parent is suffering from a serious infection while living in a nursing home. An assisted living facility is supposed to be a place you trust to care for your loved one and provide for all their needs. If you find that your parent has bedsores, you may not realize that they could and should have been prevented. The presence of these sores can be serious and may lead to the further decline of the health of your loved one.
What are Bedsores?
Bedsores are also called pressure ulcers. They are red, painful sores that develop in areas where there is consistent rubbing, such as that which occurs from the constant touching of sheets on a particular part of the skin. Pressure ulcers occur most often in patients who have limited mobility and are, therefore, unable to adequately move. These patients remain in one place for too long, and that is when bedsores may begin to develop. Properly repositioning a bedridden person will often prevent bedsores from happening.
Are Bedsores Normal?
While bedsores are common, they are not normal, regardless of what a nursing home representative may have told you. In fact, bedsores are a sign of a potential lack of proper care. Under proper care, a bedridden person must be repositioned manually if they are unable to do so on their own. Without this manual care, bedsores are more likely to develop.
Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question “What constitutes nursing home negligence?”
Severity of Bedsores
Bedsores increase in severity over time. There are four stages of bedsores ranging from the least severe, stage 1, through the most severe, stage 4. Stage 1 bedsores are red spots that may appear dark blue or purple. They may be warm to the touch and may hurt, burn, or itch.
Stage 2 bedsores may have broken or damaged skin. They are more painful and might appear as blisters. As a bedsore progresses, it may turn into a stage 3 sore. Stage 3 bedsores are deeper, and more damaged skin is present. Stage 4 bedsores are larger wounds and may be deep, going down into the muscles and tendons in severe cases.
Bedsores can be especially dangerous to older people and those with compromised immune systems. These people are less able to fight infections. Additionally, when an infection does occur, it can spread more rapidly. Sometimes, antibiotics and other treatments can be unsuccessful in treating an infection. When an infection becomes severe enough, it could get into the bloodstream and lead to sepsis.
What is the Proper Treatment of Bedsores?
Bedsores most often occur in areas of the skin that frequently touch the bed or other objects. These areas include the tailbone, hips, shoulder blades, heels, back of the head, knees, and elbows. In some cases, bedsores can occur in areas where a supplemental air tube is used, where it may rub on the nose, cheek, or ears.
Bedsores need to be identified and treated quickly to prevent them from worsening. A medical doctor should always evaluate the patient to determine the best course of treatment. It is important to immediately stop the areas from further rubbing. Topical antibiotics can be used to prevent infections. The areas must be kept clean and sanitary. The wounds can be protected with gauze bandages. Negative pressure wound therapy may be required. Medication might be necessary if an infection is present.
Bedsores can lead to serious infections and even the death of a patient. If you believe that a nursing facility was negligent in providing care to your loved one, you may be able to seek compensation. Call us at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to schedule a consultation to discuss the details of your case.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/bedsores
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bed-sores/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355899
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https://www.freeimages.com/photo/grandsons-1508997
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