Nursing home neglect and abuse can cause a variety of different medical issues. Mistreatment of older adults can lead to traumatic injuries. Failing to tend to them regularly and support healthy movement can also cause injuries, including bedsore development.
Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers, form due to the pressure of gravity on the body combined with remaining in one position for extended amounts of time. Bedsores are somewhat common among those in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes.
Are bedsores serious medical issues, or are they “merely” painful warning signs of low care standards?
Bedsores can lead to medical complications
There are four stages of bedsore development. The first stage is when the wound is just a painful annoyance. It has only caused inflamed, tender tissue and it has not yet broken the skin. After the first stage of development, bedsores can cause some substantial tissue damage and may expose people to infection risk when the wound damages the skin.
Bedsores on their own can be painful and can impact a person’s quality of life. When a nursing home resident develops complications, their life could be at risk. Approximately 60,000 people every year die due to complications associated with bedsores. Countless others require medical interventions for tissue damage, infections and other consequences of bedsores that progress into the later stages.
Identifying widespread, severe or infected bedsores as a sign of negligence can help families take action. A successful nursing home negligence lawsuit can compensate those affected by poor care standards and help cover the costs of additional medical support.