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Bed Sores (or Pressure Ulcers) Are a Sign of Nursing Home Neglect (Part A)

One of the signs of nursing home neglect is pressure ulcers, otherwise known as bed sores. These are wounds or skin lesions found on an individual's body when they are left in the same position for a long period of time.

If your loved one has suffered from nursing home neglect, a nursing home abuse attorney in Chicago can explain your loved one's legal rights. You may be able to pursue compensation for the injuries your loved one has sustained to help aid in their medical treatment and other losses.

Understanding Bed Sores

Bed sores are serious because they can lead to severe injuries or even death. When an individual lies in a bed or sits in a chair for a long period of time, an area of the body may experience pressure. The skin's underlying tissue can then become damaged, causing bed sores.

Bed sores can be prevented in a number of ways, including moving an individual to different positions so that pressure is relieved and redistributed. Because this is a preventable condition, if an individual is found to have bed sores this may be a clear indication of nursing home neglect.

Common Areas of the Body to Develop Bed Sores

There are some areas of the body that commonly develop bed sores, including:

• buttocks;
• hips;
• tailbone/sacrum; and
• heels.

When those or any other areas of the body experience unrelieved pressure, bed sores can develop. If they are not treated, the patient is at risk of infection. This in turn could lead to an infection in the bone, osteomyelitis or limb amputation. Tragically, bed sores can even lead to death in some cases.

The severity of bed sores depends on the extent of damage. They are graded on a scale of 1 to 5. The least serious is a grade 1, in which the individual's skin turns red. The most serious is a grade 5, in which a wound opens and muscle or bone is exposed.

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