Pressure ulcers are severe and in some cases life-threatening medical conditions. Unfortunately, bed sores and pressure ulcers affect a high number of residents and patients living in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. As per studies, as many as 1 in 5 residents in these facilities suffer signs of pressure ulcers at one point. The fact is most pressure ulcers and bed sores are a form of elder abuse and neglect. Regardless of what the nursing home tells you, these are most often caused when a resident does not have their basic needs taken care of. These injuries don’t occur overnight. You should speak with an experienced nursing home attorney if you believe your loved one suffered such type of neglect. What are Pressure Ulcers? Pressure ulcers, also known as, bed sores or pressure sores are injuries caused on the skin and tissue of certain areas because of friction or pressure. Buttocks, back, elbows, heels, hips, and ankles are the most common areas where pressure ulcers form. Residents and patients that have limited mobility because of spending long periods in a certain position suffer these injuries. Pressure ulcers have stages of severity with stage 1 wound being superficial and stage 4 wound going all the way down to the tissue. These sores are painful and can result in numerous complications, such as sepsis, cellulitis, and severe infection. Neglect by Nursing Homes Resulting in Pressure Ulcers The majority of nursing homes and care facilities are not adequately staffed for increasing profits. They don’t have the resources required to care for residents and prevent pressure ulcers. In addition, the nursing home staff is often untrained and uneducated. They may not know the right methods for preventing and treating these bed sores. Pressure ulcers should not be taken lightly. They are a gross form of elder neglect and can cause consequences that can result in eventual death. Preventing Pressure Sores These are a few steps taken by responsible nursing and care facilities to protect their residents from suffering pressure ulcers:
- Frequent monitoring: Patients and residents need to be frequently monitored for identifying the warning signs of pressure ulcers
- Adequate nutrition: Older adults require the proper amount of water, food, and nutrients for maintaining a healthy body. Vitamins are necessary for preventing the breakdown of tissue and skin.
- Repositioning and turning: A bedridden patient’s body needs to be turned and comfortably repositioned often for alleviating pressure from the trouble areas. Typically, a patient should be repositioned every 2 hours for avoiding the development of a pressure sore.
- Right bedding: Your loved ones deserve the best. Nursing facilities should use alternative methods where patients are unable to be repositioned for reasons restricting their mobility. Pressure redistribution mattresses, heel lift boots, low-air mattresses, and other devices can help.