Bedsores, or pressure ulcers, are frequently an issue in nursing homes where elderly patients with minimal or no mobility are confined to their beds. They can also appear on patients in hospitals who are in comas or have injuries that prevent them from standing up, walking or lifting themselves up and shifting in bed.
Hospitals and nursing homes have procedures to prevent bedsores from occurring. Preventing bedsores is considered such a fundamental aspect of elder care that the federal government has even codified it as a legal requirement of long-term care facilities.
If pressure ulcers do form, facilities are legally required to provide any treatment necessary to ensure the bedsores heal and don’t get infected.
Are Pressure Ulcers a Sign of Neglect?
Whether bed sores are an indication of neglect is complicated. It can certainly be one indicator that patients are being left alone and unattended for long stretches of time. There may be some legitimate reason why a patient can’t be adjusted frequently enough to prevent bedsores from forming.
The determination is sometimes dependent on how long it takes for the bedsores to develop. Patients with conditions that cause reduced blood flow, such as type 2 diabetes, are far more susceptible to the development of bedsores.
Nursing facilities and hospitals may try to argue they’ve done their best but haven’t been able to entirely prevent the formation of bedsores due to the patient’s health or preexisting conditions.
What Causes Bedsores?
Contributing factors to pressure ulcers include:
- Constant pressure on a specific part of the body, which reduces blood flow to affected tissue
- Friction with clothing or bedding
- Shear caused by gravity and the elasticity of skin
If the skin on a patient’s tailbone is stuck or pressed down on a hospital bed, and a patient’s weight shifts or slides down the bed, their skin at the pressure point might stay static while the rest of their weight pulls down, resulting in the tearing of the skin.
A lack of movement isn’t the only potential risk factor, and some of other pressure ulcer risk factors are equally problematic.
For example, inadequate nutrition and dehydration can increase a patient’s risk of developing pressure ulcers. Incontinence resulting in prolonged exposure to bodily waste can also greatly increase a patient’s chance for developing bedsores. These particular risk factors are also significantly higher if a patient is the victim of nursing home negligence.
Bedsores Aren’t Just Painful
Severe pain and discomfort aren’t the only detrimental effects of bedsores. They also greatly increase a patient’s risk for infection, especially if the bedsores are caused by inattentiveness or exacerbated by inadequate hygiene practices.
Patients with bedsores are at risk of developing deep infections, including infections that reach bones and joints. These infections can potentially cause an infection-based type of arthritis known as septic arthritis.
Nonhealing wounds of all kinds, including bedsores, can also lead to the development of squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.
In severe cases, untreated bedsores could trigger sepsis, which is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate medical intervention.
Is It Time to Call a Lawyer About Your Loved One’s Bedsores?
If your loved one’s bedsores are just one of several troubling signs you’ve witnessed that suggest care at the facility is substandard, it may be in your best interest to contact a Houston injury lawyer experienced in nursing home neglect or elder abuse.
It is possible for a patient at a good, attentive facility to develop bedsores, but their appearance should never be ignored. You should find out exactly what measures your family member’s care team is putting in place to promote healing, stave off infection and prevent future bedsores from developing.
Children and Family Might Be an Elderly Person’s Only True Advocate
A disturbing percentage of elder abuse and negligence cases go unreported because the victims of the negligent care are incapable of seeking help on their own. People struggling with dementia or limited mobility may not have the faculties or opportunities to advocate for themselves effectively.
The vigilance of family members is hugely important when a loved one is in an elder care facility. Do not ignore warning signs, and don’t be afraid to challenge your family member’s care protocols if you suspect they are being neglected.
The Weycer Law Firm understands how painful nursing home negligence and medical malpractice is for both the victim of the negligence and their family members. We are committed to fast and thorough investigations to get to the truth and hold negligent actors responsible as soon as possible.
Call us at (713) 668-4545 to request a free consultation.