Baltimore Bedsore Lawyers

The Causes of Bedsores In Nursing Homes

Bedsores are caused by patient immobility, which is most frequently observed in elderly people in nursing homes and non-ambulatory hospital patients. Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, are the result of tissue damage beneath the upper epidermal layers of patients as a result of prolonged pressure on a particular region of their body. Because this harm to underlying tissue is often linked with care in nursing homes, it’s often an indication of neglect. The following are the most common sites where bedsore injuries occur in individuals:

• Bedsores frequently appear on nursing home patients’ hips, buttocks, lower back, or tailbone as a result of continuous pressure from remaining seated or lying for long periods of time.
• Bedsores frequently appear around the ankle, heel, and foot in patients who are subjected to continual pressure on these regions as a result of their reluctance to remove their shoes or due to remaining in a wheelchair device.

Bedsores are the result of inactivity that has persisted for a long time and has resulted in pressure being applied to inflamed body tissues. Bedsore injuries, especially those showing abnormal damage in later phases, can be prevented by nursing home staff who take the necessary effort to apply the required repositioning techniques. Additionally, nursing home staff are trained and instructed to execute activities such as moving patients about, keeping dry bedding and clothing, monitoring residents on a regular basis, and reducing pressure on bony regions of the body, which if carried out will result in residents never forming sores or skin abrasions like bedsores. However, when bedsores do form on a patient’s body, it’s very possible that it occurred due to a less than satisfactory level of care and could have been prevented had the nursing home and their staff provided the care that is expected of them. When this happens, it’s highly recommended to work with a skilled Baltimore bedsore lawyer because the nursing home will push back and deny fault.

Stages Of Bedsores & Pressure Ulcers

Understanding the types of bedsores is crucial for a successful nursing home abuse claim against a negligent staff and their facility. There are 4 stages of bedsores that you must be aware of, all of which can drastically affect the elder. Bedsores are classified according to their severity, ranging from the least severe (Stage 1) to the most severe (Stage 4). If you believe you or a loved one have suffered from pressure ulcers, you must contact an experienced bedsore attorney in Baltimore, MD as soon as possible.

Stage I

At this stage, the bedsore has only just begun. The skin hasn’t been damaged, but a sore will develop as a red mark that is warm or cool to the touch. It might or may not be uncomfortable. Instead of red, it can appear purple or ashen on people with darker complexions.

Stage II

As a result of the pressure on the affected skin, it will begin to bloat. The outer layer of skin has been sloughed away or destroyed, and the dermis may be damaged as well. It will generally be pink or red in color and shallow in depth.

Stage III

The bedsore will be deep at this point. Skin loss is a big problem, and fat might be visible as well. The sore will be deep, with dead or yellowed skin within the wound.

Stage IV

This is the most severe form of bedsores. It might indicate that tissue, especially muscle and tendons, has been lost. Muscle and tendon tissue, as well as bone, may be visible through the hole in the skin at this time. Dead tissue may surround the wound’s edges or near its bottom.

Treatment For Bedsores

Bedsores that develop faster are simpler to detect and cure. However, if the pressure ulcer reaches stage IV, it might take years for it to fully recover or even result in wrongful death. In order to treat bedsores, the personnel in a nursing home setting will need to perform the following tasks:

• Reposition the patient regularly
• Clean any existing bedsores
• Bandage the wounds properly

Negligence in a nursing home can lead to infected bedsores that quickly get worse. In this situation, the patient hasn’t received the care mandated by the Nursing Home Reform Act, and someone must file a claim on his or her behalf or for a loved one. Unfortunately, bedsores are common in elders in nursing home facilities, but they should be avoided at all costs. If the staff at that facility does their proper duty to reposition the resident regularly, then bedsores should be very rare. If the nursing home staff handles pressure ulcer management properly, sores should not become a serious issue. However, medical negligence and nursing home abuse often take the form of mismanagement or complete inaction when it comes to bedsores in patients. Speak with an experienced Baltimore bedsore lawyer today if you believe you or a loved one has been abused in a nursing home.