Bedsores: a Cry for Help from Those in Nursing Homes

Bedsores are both painful and preventable lesions that mainly affect the elderly and inform. Although bedsores have many causes, they often result from failure to properly meet an elderly person's medical needs. Unfortunately, they can be prevalent in residents of nursing homes, due to many defects within the nursing home system, such as inadequate training, insufficient number of staff and low wages.

Fortunately, Florida law has addressed the problem of spotty medical care in nursing homes. The law grants nursing home residents many rights and the ability to pursue compensation if those rights are violated.

What are Bedsores?

Bedsores are also known as pressure sores or pressure ulcers. They are painful skin and tissue injuries caused by sustained pressure on skin. The sustained pressure stops blood from flowing to the skin and underlying tissues, eventually causing the cells to die.

If left untreated, the dead skin and the tissue will slough off, leaving an open wound that can eventually expose the underlying bones, tendons, and muscles. Without fast and aggressive treatment, the wound can become infected, cause sepsis or gangrene and even death.

The most common areas where bedsores develop are areas that are bony. These areas include the hips, heels, buttocks, and ankles. People who are most likely to develop bedsores are those who have medical conditions that require them to use a wheelchair or to remain in bed for long periods of time.

Bedsores in Nursing Homes

Caregivers in nursing homes can cause a patient to develop bedsores by failing to regularly turn or move the patient. Turning helps to ensure the uninterrupted flow of blood to the skin and tissues. As most bedsores are preventable with regular care, the presence of them on a nursing home resident is a red flag indicating possible neglect or abuse.

Under Florida law, residents of a nursing home have many rights, one of which is the right to receive adequate health care. If a resident's rights are violated, the resident (or his or her guardian) has the right to file a lawsuit to enforce these rights.

In addition to any monetary damages, the resident can recover punitive damages and attorney's fees. There may also be criminal penalties in some cases. If you suspect that a loved one is being abused or neglected by employees of a nursing home, do not hesitate to contact an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer right away, to ensure that your loved one is protected.

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