Cherry Hill Nursing Home Bedsore Lawyer
Request a Free ConsultationBedsores are also known as pressure sores or pressure ulcers. They are an injury to the skin and underlying tissue that results from prolonged pressure in one area. A lot of times, when people are bedridden and unable to move, and their body is constantly laying on the bed, this pressure ulcer will likely form on their leg, heels, or low back area.
These ulcers and sores occur can be very severe and painful and could lead to infections if left untreated. If you or a loved one have experienced bedsores from living in a nursing home, an experienced attorney should be contacted to discuss filing an injury claim. A Cherry Hill nursing home bedsore lawyer can help you compile evidence to make your case.
Warning Signs
A bedsore is always a warning sign that nursing home abuse is happening because these injuries are 100 percent avoidable. Cherry Hill lawyers have seen nursing home abuse cases where the cause of bedsores is neglecting a resident by not moving or monitoring them the way they should according to the standard of care requires. Nursing home staff members are supposed to monitor, move, and clean bedridden residents periodically. For this reason, bedsores are always a sign of nursing home abuse and neglect.
Severity of a Bedsore
A bedsore occurs when a resident who is either entirely bedridden or has a difficult time getting in and out bed is laying in the same position for a long period of time without being moved. That pressure on a particular part of the body eventually results in an ulcer or a sore.
There are four stages of bedsores, with stage one being the mildest and stage four being the most severe. Stage one is characterized by sores that have not opened yet. It is still painful, but there are no breaks or tears in the skin.
A stage four pressure sore is deep, sometimes causing visible damage to a muscle, bone, and deeper tissues, tendons, and joints. It can get very severe when an individual gets to stage four bedsores. It is important to contact a Cherry Hill nursing home bedsore attorney sooner rather than later because these injuries can ultimately result in a severe infection, complications, and, ultimately, death.
Types of Harm
The physical pain that can result from a bedsore is indescribable. When a person has a severe bedsore, that pressure sore can reach down into the muscles and the bones and have some long-term effects there. Ultimately, the bone can get infected, or sepsis can set in.
These types of infections are very difficult to treat and can ultimately result in the premature death of the resident. The worst part about bedsores is that they are 100 percent preventable. There is no reason that a bedsore should occur in a nursing home. If the nursing home is following their standard of care and doing what they are supposed to do, there is never an instance where a bedsore should happen to a resident.
Treatment Options for Bedsores in Cherry Hill Nursing Homes
Bedsores take a long time to heal. One of the most important things that can be done is relieve pressure from that particular area. A person does not want to continually be putting pressure on where they have the bedsore because it can get worse.
It is also important to make sure that the sores are being cleaned very thoroughly as to avoid infection. It’s crucial to work with medical staff who understands what they are doing. If a bedsore was caused inside of a nursing home, our team would recommend taking the loved one out of that facility to another to be cared for by a nurse or medical professional. Call a Cherry Hill nursing home bedsore lawyer for assistance.