Are Bedsores a Sign of Nursing Home Abuse?

Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers, are entirely preventable, but are they a sign of nursing home abuse? In many cases, yes; the appearance of bedsores is indicative of nursing home neglect or abuse.

Bedsores Are Often a Sign of Nursing Home Abuse

There are several simple steps that nursing homes can—and should—take to prevent bedsores among their residents. For example, as Johns Hopkins Medicine explains, if a nursing home resident is on bed rest, bedsores can be prevented by taking steps such as:

• Changing the resident’s body position every two hours 
• Making sure the resident’s bedding is smooth 
• Making sure one leg is not lying on top of the other or putting a pillow between the resident’s legs
• Raising the resident’s heels slightly with a pad under the calves 

Since residents who are on bed rest often cannot take these steps on their own, they rely on nursing home staff members to help them—and taking steps to prevent bedsores should be part of these residents’ care plans. The same is true for residents who are generally immobile or who are confined to a wheelchair for much of the day. 

With this in mind, if a nursing home fails to do what is necessary to prevent bedsores, this will generally be considered a form of neglect or abuse. Nursing homes have an obligation to care for their residents and ensure that they have a reasonable quality of life. If nursing home staff inadvertently fail to prevent bedsores, this qualifies as neglect. If nursing home staff intentionally abandon a resident or ignore a resident’s needs, this qualifies as abuse. 

Understanding the Four Stages of Bedsores

Due to the risk of developing bedsores—and the risk of a nursing home resident experiencing severe complications if bedsores are left untreated—it is critical for residents and their loved ones to be able to identify ulcers that require medical attention. Bedsores go through four stages of development, with each stage having its own set of distinctive symptoms:

• Stage 1 Bedsore Symptoms: A red, blue, or purple area of skin that resembles a bruise; this area may also burn, itch, or feel warm to the touch. 
• Stage 2 Bedsore Symptoms: An open sore that may look like an abrasion or blister; the burning or itching around the bedsore will transition into severe and constant pain. 
• Stage 3 Bedsore Symptoms: The open sore deepens and “looks like a crater;” the sore may also have dark patches of skin around its edges. 
• Stage 4 Bedsore Symptoms: The open sore deepens further and may begin to affect the muscle or bone beneath the skin; at stage 4, a bedsore should be treated as a medical emergency.

As Johns Hopkins Medicine also explains, “Bedsores should be treated right away, even in the early stages. That’s because they can quickly get worse.” Nursing home residents have the right to obtain medical treatment when they need it from a doctor of their (or their representative’s) choosing. If you have concerns about a bedsore (or, if you think you or your loved one may have a bedsore but aren’t sure), you should seek a doctor’s advice as soon as possible. 

Recovering the Financial and Non-Financial Costs of Bedsores from Nursing Home Neglect or Abuse 

While the costs of medical treatment for bedsores can be significant, these costs can pale in comparison to the other consequences nursing home residents often endure. Bedsores can be extremely painful, and they can cause chronic pain and permanent disfigurement in many cases. Advanced bedsores can drastically reduce nursing home residents’ quality of life; and, sadly, they can have life-threatening complications in some cases as well. 

With this in mind, in addition to seeking a doctor’s advice promptly, nursing home residents and family members who have concerns about bedsores should seek a lawyer’s advice as well. Residents and family members can recover just compensation for the financial and non-financial costs of bedsores by filing a claim for nursing home neglect or abuse. Hiring a lawyer in this scenario costs nothing out-of-pocket, and an experienced lawyer can help you make informed decisions while dealing with the nursing home on your behalf. 

Speak with a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Madison, WI for FREE 

If you have questions about seeking just compensation for nursing home neglect or abuse in Wisconsin, we strongly encourage you to get in touch. Proving negligence in these cases can be complex, and requires the knowledges, skill, and resources of a lawyer with significant experience with nursing home abuse claims. The nursing home abuse lawyers at Boller & Vaughan have built a reputation for excellence in these types of cases. We understand Wisconsin law and we know how to win for our clients.

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