Expert Legal Representation for Bedsore Victims
Elderly residents in nursing homes are often susceptible to bedsores, often called pressure sores, pressure ulcers, or decubitus ulcers, when they are left for prolonged periods in a bed or chair without being properly cared for, monitored, and moved.
If you discover that your elderly loved one is not getting the care they need and are suffering due to adverse health consequences related to bedsores or pressure ulcers, an Omaha nursing home abuse lawyer from Welsh & Welsh may be able to help you protect your loved one.
At Welsh & Welsh, our experienced attorneys can help you file a legal claim against the nursing home facility that is mistreating your loved one and allowing them to develop painful sores, which can lead to devastating consequences. We fiercely protect the rights of Nebraska senior citizens and will be at your side every step of the way.
How Common Are Bedsores in Nursing Homes?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), residents in nursing homes often suffer from bed sore injuries. Their findings are from the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey:
- 159,000 U.S. nursing home residents had pressure ulcers.
- Residents aged 64 and under were more likely to have head pressure ulcers than older residents.
- Residents at the home longer were less likely to have pressure ulcers than those who had been there for a year or less.
- One in five nursing home residents with pressure ulcers had undergone a recent weight loss.
- Thirty-five percent of people with more severe pressure ulcers received special wound services.
Considering these numbers, you may be worried about your loved one’s health in their nursing home. Other signs of poor nutrition, mobility, and hygiene may also mean that nursing home neglect may be occurring. The Welsh & Welsh law firm lawyers, will carefully investigate your case to find out how your loved one was hurt and who is liable. We’ll do everything possible to get them the justice they deserve.
How Are Bedsores Formed?
Residents in neglectful nursing homes may not be seen by nurses for hours. When nurses can’t get to all their residents promptly, everyone suffers. This can be especially dangerous for bedridden residents. They may be stuck in the same position on their bed for too long, resulting in bed sores. They’re caused by prolonged pressure on the skin, which irritates the tissue underneath. Seniors are at risk if they are immobile, lack healthy nutrition and hydration, and have medical conditions that affect blood flow.
Pressure ulcers or pressure injuries have four stages of injury:
- Stage 1. This is the beginning stage. For people with lighter skin colors, the sore will appear red. For people with darker skin colors, the area of the sore will look different than the surrounding skin. While the sore is painful, the skin hasn’t broken.
- Stage 2. There is skin breakage at this stage and an ulcer form. As the sore reaches further layers of skin, it also looks like a blister and is painful.
- Stage 3. The sore continues to reach deeper and gets to the tissue underneath the skin. It forms a crater.
- Stage 4. The sore now reaches bones, muscles, and joints and can cause severe damage.
If you’re concerned about your loved one being left in their bed for too long and suspecting injury, knowing what bedsore looks like to get your nursing home resident the care they need is important.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Bedsores
Pressure sores are signs you can look for if you think your loved one may have them. Some of those signs are:
- Swelling
- Unusual Skin Color or Texture
- Pus-Like Drainage
- Tenderness
Those in bed for long periods may develop sores on their head, shoulders, hips, tailbone, behind their knees, or around their ankles.
Bed Sores Can Lead to Major Injuries
While some bed sore injuries can be minor, those left unchecked and untreated can cause serious injury to the muscle and bone. The injuries can cause infections like:
- Cellulitis. The skin and soft tissue become infected and are often red or swollen.
- Bone or Joint Infections. These infections may damage tissue in the surrounding areas or affect the mobility of the bone or joint.
- Cancer. If the wounds have been there for long and aren’t getting treatment, the ulcers can turn cancerous.
Long-term negligence of bedsores usually leads to severe infections and injuries, but had the bedsores been properly treated and/or prevented, the resulting injuries could have been avoided altogether. You should be able to depend on the nursing home to care for your loved one and can take legal action when they don’t.
If you believe that a nursing home is neglecting your loved one and they have bedsores, contact the experienced attorneys at Welsh & Welsh in Omaha right away. We can help you get the justice you deserve.
Our Results Speak For Themselves
At Welsh & Welsh, we’re proud to have served the Omaha area for over 65 years and successfully litigated hundreds of cases. Our experienced attorneys are dedicated to protecting the rights of elderly residents in nursing homes and fighting against bedsore neglect. We’ve seen the devastating effects that these sores can cause and how families can be left picking up the pieces. We’ll help you find the justice your loved one deserves and hold those responsible accountable.
Our attorneys will strive to get you the compensation you need and deserve, whether to cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, or lost wages due to time off work spent caring for your loved one in the hospital.
Protect Your Loved One With an Omaha Bedsore Lawyer
Protect your loved one’s rights with an Omaha nursing home abuse lawyer from Welsh & Welsh. Our attorneys are compassionate and experienced people who understand what you’re going through and will do everything possible to help you and your loved one. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation.
