presented by: Gary Massey
Tennessee Nursing Home Resident InjuryPressure sores form at points where the body is in contact with another surface for an extended period of time. They are a constant concern among people who cannot get out of bed or a wheelchair, especially when the skin is fragile and/or the person’s immune system is compromised – both conditions that are very common in elderly people. However, nursing home staff is obligated to provide the care and attention needed to prevent pressure sores, and the presence of such injuries may indicate neglect or even intentional abuse of an elder.
Pressure sores, also known as bed sores or decubitus ulcers, go through four stages:
Stage 1. The skin looks red, blue, or purple, and it does not go back to its ordinary color when pressed. The area may feel warm or cool to the touch and/or be painful.
Stage 2. This is the first stage where the skin is broken. A shallow blister or sore forms at this stage.
Stage 3. The blister or sore formed in stage 2 gets deeper, making a crater shape. It may be possible to see fat or other tissues, but not muscle or bone.
Stage 4. The sore has formed a deep wound that penetrates all the skin layers. Muscle and/or bone may be visible.
Pressure sores cause severe pain and greatly increase the risk of infection, gangrene, and other life-threatening conditions. Nursing home residents should be checked regularly for pressure sores, and staff should be prepared to help prevent and treat sores as soon as one is suspected. The sooner a pressure sore is treated, the less likely it is to cause serious harm.
At Massey & Associates, P.C., we’ve handled many cases involving bed sores. The pictures of these preventable injuries are disturbing, but the suffering of the seniors who suffer from the neglect that causes pressure sores is heart breaking. We are passionate about helping injured nursing residents find justice and holding medical facilities accountable when they allow our seniors to suffer unnecessary injuries.
If your loved one has suffered from pressure sores or other injuries resulting from neglect by nursing home staff and/or administration, our knowledgeable Tennessee nursing home neglect injury attorneys can help you get to the bottom what happened and get the compensation your loved one needs. Call us today at (423) 396-0720 for a free, confidential case evaluation.
Gary Massey, Jr., is a well-known courtroom advocate practicing law in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Gary is a native of Tennessee who began practicing law in 1998. He graduated from Cumberland School of Law where he was ranked in the top 3% of his class and was an editor of the Cumberland Law Review.
