Also known as pressure sores, bedsores are caused by poor nutrition and/or prolonged pressure on the skin of patients left to lie in one position for too long. Residents of nursing homes who are bedbound or wheelchair-bound usually require assistance to prevent bedsores. Caretakers, such as nursing home staff, must regularly assess the risk of bedsores and develop individualized plans to prevent these injuries. Those who do not assess their residents regularly are guilty of nursing home abuse and neglect.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as many as one out of 10 residents in nursing homes currently suffer from bedsores, and studies show that they get them twice as often as hospital patients. This is usually because nursing homes don’t often have the same rules for nurse- to-patient ratios as hospitals. With a reduced number of caregivers to care for all the residents of a nursing home, profits are maximized, and patients are forced to wait longer for care.
Pressure sores or bedsores are painful and can quickly escalate to serious and life-threatening conditions if allowed to worsen. Bedsores are a serious sign of neglect and should be brought to the attention of a medical practitioner immediately.
Nursing home staff has the responsibility of to prevent bedsores, to identify them early and to provide prompt treatment upon discovery.
It is far easier to prevent a bedsore than it is to treat one.
Bedsores can be easily prevented if:
- The resident is kept clean, dry and provided adequate nutrition.
- The resident is regularly repositioned in his or her bed or wheelchair.
- The resident is checked by nursing home staff for bedsores often, so that any bedsores can be treated promptly.
Hupy and Abraham has a proven track record of success when it comes to helping victims of nursing home negligence and abuse. If you believe your loved one is not receiving proper care or not being treated with the dignity they deserve by a nursing home, take action. Please call us at 800-800-5678 to schedule a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation today.