Nursing Home Malpractice: Bedsores

Bedsores are preventable as long as proper care is provided to residents by the nursing home and its staff.  If a nursing home resident develops bedsores or the bedsores worsen, this may be an indication that nursing home is providing inadequate care and is neglecting its residents.

Causes of Bedsores

Bedsores are also known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers.  They are entirely preventable as long as the nursing home staff takes proper and preventative care.  When residents spend a long period of time in a single position there is a significant risk of developing bedsores.  To prevent the lesions from developing, nursing home residents should not remain in the same sedentary position for a long period of time.  The staff of the nursing home should encourage their residents to move around and shift position every few hours.  However, the residents will often require assistance in repositioning themselves in their beds or chairs.

Techniques to Prevent Bedsores

Caregivers at nursing homes should be very familiar with the techniques that are necessary to prevent their residents from developing bedsores.  These techniques include:

• Helping the residents lie in a position at a 30 degree angle (this reduces pressure on areas that are susceptible to bedsores);
• Repositioning, relocating, or off-loading;
• Using devices that relieve pressure (such as pillows or foam padding);
• Making sure that the residents have dry clothing and bedding;
• Checking on residents every day; and
• Checking on residents more often if they have a higher risk of developing lesions.

If a nursing home and/or its employees fail to monitor the residents, they may be considered negligent.  This includes failing to help residents into a new position or failing to help residents who have limited or no mobility.  The nursing home may be liable to the resident for any resulting injuries if the resident develops bedsores due to negligence.

If you or a loved one has been injured as the result of nursing home malpractice there are some steps that you can do to make your claim stronger, including:

• Taking and dating pictures of the lesions;
• Request documentation (this includes performance reports of the staff involved in your our your loved ones care);
• Requesting an explanation of the steps that were taken in caring for the resident;
• Look for an obtain copies of any previous allegations or claims that the nursing home was negligent; and
• If there were any citations, warnings, reprimands, or violations against the home, request that you be provided a list.

Contact an experienced Kingston, New York malpractice attorney to evaluate your case as soon as possible.

But what do you think?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave a comment or I also welcome your phone call on my toll-free cell at 1-866-889-6882 or you can drop me an e-mail at jfisher@fishermalpracticelaw.com.  You are always welcome to request my FREE book, The Seven Deadly Mistakes of Malpractice Victims, at the home page of my website at www.protectingpatientrights.com.