Serious Medical Complications From Bedsores in Nursing Homes

 Posted on September 22, 2021 in Nursing Home Abuse

Bedsores are a common problem for nursing home residents who spend most of their day confined to a bed, and while the condition certainly sounds unpleasant and uncomfortable, it can be easy to overlook just how serious the effects can be, especially when bedsores are left to develop over an extended period of time. Unfortunately, bedsores are often the result of nursing home neglect. Depending on the severity of the bedsores, residents and their families may be entitled to substantial compensation from the nursing home facility and staff.

The Development of Bed Sores

Bedsores are also known as pressure sores, pressure ulcers, or decubitus ulcers, and they can develop when a person remains in the same position for an extended period of time, placing pressure on certain areas of the body and cutting off blood flow. In bedridden nursing home residents, they tend to develop in places like the heels, hips, tailbone, shoulders, and the back of the head.

Medical professionals classify bedsores into four stages, as follows:

• In Stage 1, a person may experience pain, discomfort, itching, and mild discoloration. At this point, the effects of the sore or ulcer are limited to the surface layer of the skin.

• In Stage 2, the sore has begun to penetrate through the skin and developed into an open wound, possibly leaking pus and other fluid.

• In Stage 3, the sore has started to affect the fatty tissue beneath the skin. The wound will likely appear to be deep with some black, necrotic tissue, and there may be an odor surrounding the wound.

• In Stage 4, muscles, tendons, and bones may be damaged and exposed. The sore is also likely to become infected, and this infection can spread throughout the body.

While Stage 1 bedsores can heal within a matter of days with the proper attention, Stage 3 and 4 bedsores often require significant medical intervention, including surgery and antibiotics. A person affected by severe bedsores may take several months to recover, and the wounds may never fully heal.

Bed Sores and Nursing Home Neglect

When bedsores go unnoticed and untreated for long periods of time and are allowed to develop into the later stages, there is a good chance that nursing home neglect is a factor. Many nursing home residents need assistance from facility staff to regularly reposition themselves, and bedsores are a likely sign that they are not receiving the help they need, possibly for days or weeks at a time.

Contact a Chicago Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

If you or a loved one is suffering from bedsores due to neglect in a nursing home or long-term care facility, the experienced Cook County nursing home neglect attorneys at Schwartz Injury Law can help you take the steps to rectify the situation. We will represent you in your pursuit of full compensation for your medical expenses and pain and suffering. Call us today to schedule a free consultation at 312-535-4625.

Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/pressure-sores-4-stages

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/bedsores

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bed-sores/symptoms-causes/syc-20355893