Placing a loved one under the care of a nursing home is a difficult decision that requires careful planning. Unfortunately, cases of nursing home abuse are all too common. Bedsores, commonly known as pressure sores, are oftentimes a sign of nursing home negligence and abuse. Pressure sores are a serious medical condition and a warning sign of poor clinical care. More alarmingly so, if left untreated, bedsores can prove fatal.
The primary reason for bedsores forming is the unrelieved pressure on the skin. Bedsores are typically found on areas of the body with bony prominence, such as hips, elbows, back, and ankles. Bedsores form when the skin and tissue break down from a lack of blood flow and prolonged pressure on a part of the body, which may have been caused by nursing home negligence. Initially, the skin becomes pink or reddened. Eventually, the irritated skin develops into open sores, which can then lead to the destruction of muscle and even bone.
Pressure sores fall into four different categories or stages. The classification of bedsores assists medical personnel in determining the severity of the bedsores and to determine a diagnosis.
It is a sad reality that most nursing home residents are susceptible to bedsores. A lack of mobility from being bedridden or confined to a wheelchair can put nursing home residents at greater risk. If left to their own devices, nursing home residents can suffer greatly. Nursing home negligence for these patients can be deadly.
Nursing home residents and hospital patients are most at high risk for bedsores. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2% to 28% of nursing home residents have bedsores. As many as 1 of 10 residents will suffer from a pressure ulcer, states the CDC.
The majority of people will not develop bedsores because of frequent movement and constant changes in body position. Yet, for a lot of nursing home residents, individual movement is not a possibility. These elderly residents often require the help of nursing home staff in order to move, stand, walk, and to perform various daily activities. Bedsores in nursing home residents can also result from prolonged sitting in a wheelchair or as a result of being bedridden. Without this movement, nursing home residents can quickly develop bedsores.
It is the duty of nursing homes to provide residents with quality medical care. Good health should not be a privilege or a luxury. Nursing homes can be held liable if they fail to provide residents with the necessary care.
The Chicago Nursing Home Bedsores Lawyers at The Horwitz Law Group have experience with cases of bedsores nationwide. We understand If you have a loved one who has developed bed sores while under the care of a nursing home, there is a great chance that the facility’s negligence may be accountable. Let The Horwitz Law Group evaluate your case by contacting a nursing home bedsores lawyer today.
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