Some people in Chattanooga believe that living with bedsores are inevitable part of the process of aging as a patient in a nursing home, but in most cases, this is simply not true. Bedsores can often be prevented with proper care. Accordingly, if you notice that a nursing home resident is suffering from bedsores, this could be a sign of potential nursing home negligence.
Bedsores in Chattanooga nursing homes may pose problems and challenges for nursing home staff, but the staff owe a duty to prevent these types of injuries from occurring, so when these sores are noticeable, it is often worthwhile to investigate the cause. A knowledgeable nursing home abuse attorney may be able to assist with investigation and provide advice regarding actions to address the problem.
Causes of Bedsores in Nursing Home Patients
Bedsores are also referred to as pressure ulcers because they occur when a patient’s skin is pressured for too long or too severely at one time. Elderly patients are often vulnerable to pressure wounds because of the fragility of their skin and their reduced mobility. They frequently occur in bony areas of the body such as heels when patients remain in the same position for too long.
Bedsores can be caused by continuous pressure, which can reduce blow flow and oxygen supply and cause cells to die off. In some situations, bedsores develop due to shear and friction. Shear damage occurs to underlying tissue when skin is stretched, such as when a bedridden patient sinks down into a bed. Friction injuries occur when skin rubs across an abrasive surface, which can include the upholstery of a chair or even coarse bed linens.
Nursing homes owe a duty to their residents to take actions to reduce the risk of bedsores developing. When they neglect this duty and patients suffer as a result, the nursing home may be held liable. The presence of bedsores may indicate that other needs of the patient are being neglected as well.
How Nursing Homes Could Prevent Bedsores
Because bedsores are a common and well-known problem which could be prevented, nursing homes should have procedures in place to reduce the risk of these sores occurring. Measures nursing homes may take to prevent bedsores include:
- Advising mobile patients to change position frequently
- Repositioning patients who are not able to move on their own
- Providing physical therapy for patients to keep blood moving
- Checking sign for early signs of bedsores
- Keeping bed linens clean and dry
- Provide cushioning for areas prone to bedsores
- Keeping patient’s skin healthy with proper nutrition and hydration
When patients start to develop redness and irritation of the skin, nursing home staff should be taking action to address the problem areas before they worsen.
Why Bedsores in Chattanooga Retirement Homes are Such a Cause for Concern
Bedsores are painful, but the sores themselves are not the greatest cause for concern with most nursing home patients. Very often, the appearance of bedsores is a red flag indication that a patient’s needs are being neglected.
Bedsores may occur because a patient is left in bed sheets that are soiled or wet. If bedsores occur because staff are too busy to reposition patients, the staff may also be stretched too thin to monitor patients and care for medical needs. Or the presence of bedsores may indicate that staff have not been properly trained or are not being adequately supervised in the performance of their duties.
If you notice bedsores in Chattanooga nursing homes, it may be time to take a closer look at the situation. You may want to consider moving your loved oneto a different facility and begin investigating the possibility of legal action.
