Residents of nursing homes rely on their facilities to provide them with medical and occupational care while they convalesce. In Baltimore, individuals reside in nursing home due to varying ailments and for different lengths of time. Regardless of their needs and prognoses, they are entitled to respect and the care they require.
Unfortunately, some nursing home residents suffer neglect from their providers and that neglect results in injuries or death. One common form of nursing home neglect injury is bedsores. This post will discuss what bedsores are and how they happen, but no part of this post should be read as legal or medical advice.
What is a bedsore?
Bedsores are also called pressure sores or pressure ulcers. They develop on the body when an individual does not or cannot move. The sore forms at the skin and deeper into the tissue and can become infected if it is not treated. Common locations for bedsores to form include the heels, tailbone, and ankles.
Bedsores can be incredibly painful. They may swell or weep with fluid or pus. They can impact a victim’s skin in terms of its texture or even its color.
How do bedsores happen in nursing homes?
Nursing home residents can include individuals who immobile and dependent on help to move. Whether due to understaffing, poor training, or other causes, nursing home staff may fail to move patients enough to prevent the formation of and complications from bedsores. Bedsores may be a sign of problems in a nursing home and a red flag for family members who are worried about their loved ones.
When bedsores become an issue for a nursing home resident, their family can choose to seek out more information about their care and treatment. They may elect to seek the help of a personal injury attorney who represents victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. Legal time limits can bar certain actions, and those with bedsore claims can talk to legal representatives about their rights and options.
