When Stage 1 pressure sores do not receive immediate or proper treatment, they may develop into Stage 2 sores. The wound may become a breeding ground for bacteria at this stage, increasing the risk of infections and other severe complications.
Nursing homes must treat bedsores immediately as soon as they appear. Unfortunately, some facilities fail to employ proper bedsore monitoring, allowing early-stage bedsores to progress. When this happens, affected residents may suffer significant pain and life-threatening health consequences.
Did you or a loved one develop bedsores due to a nursing home's negligence? If so, you have the right to seek financial compensation. The skilled elder abuse attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center, LLC, are here to provide the legal help you need.
Contact our nursing home abuse lawyers at (800) 926-7565 (toll-free phone number) for a free legal case review.
Bedsores are injuries to the skin and soft tissues caused by prolonged pressure. These injuries often occur when someone sits or lays in one position for too long. If pressure accumulates on a body part, blood flow is cut off, and the skin starts to die.
A pressure sore can form when the blood supply is cut off for more than two to three hours. Once it develops, recovery can take days, months, or even years.
People with limited mobility or otherwise immobile are at a higher risk of bedsores because they cannot independently reposition. Frequent repositioning is necessary to prevent pressure from accumulating in the body parts in constant contact with the bed or wheelchair.
At-risk individuals include those confined to beds or wheelchairs, such as the extremely ill, paraplegic individuals, and patients recovering from major surgery.
Other factors that can lead to pressure injuries include:
These injuries often form on the skin covering bony areas of the body, including the hips, shoulders, heels, ankles, and tailbone. However, the position in which patients spend most of their day may affect where they develop bedsores.
Nursing home residents who spend most of their day sitting in wheelchairs may develop bedsores on the:
On the other hand, residents who are confined to their beds are more prone to developing sores on the:
Doctors diagnose bedsores according to their "stage," which indicates the severity of the injury. Pressure sores are divided into four stages, ranging from least to most severe:
At Stage 1 of a bed sore, the first layer of skin appears red and feels warm to the touch. The affected area may have a purple or blue tint with darker complexions.
The spot does not get lighter when you press on it, indicating reduced circulation in the area. The site may also feel different from the surrounding skin, e.g., warmer or cooler, softer or firmer.
Symptoms may include mild pain, itching, or burning in the affected area. Treating Stage 1 sores may only require stopping the pressure and washing the area with soap and water. The Stage 1 sore may heal in as little as two to three days.
Once Stage 1 bedsores progress into the deeper layers of the skin, they become Stage 2 sores. A Stage 2 bedsore leaves an open wound on the skin or looks like a blister filled with pus.
The shallow open sore is warm, swollen, red, and may leak clear fluid. These symptoms may indicate that the body is fighting to keep infection and bacteria away. A patient with a Stage 2 bedsore will likely complain of significant pain in the area.
In Stage 2, treating pressure sores requires frequent and proper cleaning of the wounds to prevent infections. Covering the area with gauze is also necessary to prevent bacteria and debris from entering the open layer of skin.
These injuries usually take three days to three weeks to heal, depending on the patient's overall health.
Stage 2 bedsores can cause infections as they are open wounds without proper treatment. It's crucial to seek professional medical advice as soon as bedsores reach this stage.
Stage 2 bedsores progress into Stage 3 when they penetrate the second layer of skin into the adipose tissue (fat). The wound has a crater-like appearance and may have a foul odor. Signs of infection may be present, such as redness, pus, heat, and fluid drainage. If there is dead tissue, the area in or around the sore is black.
Stage 2 bedsores may not require going to the doctor, but Stage 3 sores do. The doctor may remove dead tissues and prescribe antibiotics to fight infections. Treating pressure sores at Stage 3 may also require using a special bed.
A Stage 3 sore may take one to four months to heal.
Stage 4 bedsores are the most severe and affect the deeper tissues of the skin, including the muscles and ligaments. The tendons, muscles, and bones may be visible. The skin has turned black due to tissue death.
These sores require immediate medical attention. The patient may need surgery to repair the damaged skin or remove damaged tissues. Stage 4 bedsores may take months or years to heal, depending on the severity of the injuries and the patient's overall health. Some never heal at all.
Recognizing and treating pressure ulcers at this stage is crucial due to the high risk of death.
Stage 1 bedsores do not break the skin, but failing to relieve the pressure can cause the skin to tear and form Stage 2 bedsores.
Common causes of Stage 2 bedsores among nursing home residents include:
Many patients confined to beds or wheelchairs cannot do this independently and require assistance from nursing staff. When staff fails to change residents' positions regularly, stage 1 bedsores can start to form, or existing sores can progress to Stage 2.
Stage 2 sores can grow rapidly without proper treatment and continued pressure on the affected skin.
Failing to provide residents with adequate nutrition and hydration is considered nursing home abuse.
These problems often have root causes, such as:
Like any open wound, Stage 2 bedsores require immediate medical attention to reduce the risk of infections. Once an open sore forms, it becomes susceptible to infectious bacteria that can multiply rapidly on the skin.
When this happens, the following complications can occur:
These complications can occur at Stage 2 and beyond. As long as an open sore does not heal on time, there is a risk of bacterial infections. For this reason, treating Stage 2 sores before they become infected is crucial.
Doctors diagnose bedsores through physical examinations. They may also use the following treatment options to help the patient heal:
Once you notice signs of Stage 2 bed sores, seek professional medical advice on preventing the wounds from progressing.
Nursing homes are ultimately responsible for all residents' health and well-being. Hence, the development of Stage 2 bedsores clearly shows their failure to meet that obligation.
Any form of negligence, including the inability to treat Stage 2 bedsores as soon as they appear, may be considered nursing home abuse.
If you or a loved one developed Stage 2 bedsores or beyond in a nursing home, you can hold negligent parties accountable through legal action. In doing so, you must prove the following are true:
Any member of a nursing home health care team may be accountable for a Stage 2 bedsore, including:
Regardless of who is at fault, the nursing home will be liable for the victim's Stage 2 bedsores and resulting losses. Your nursing home abuse attorney will help you determine all possible responsible parties during your free legal case review.
Proper health care involves recognizing and treating pressure ulcers. Patients in nursing homes have a meager chance of developing this type of injury if they receive adequate care and attention.
Thus, bedsores are often considered a sign of nursing home neglect. Stage 2 bedsores are visible and can serve as substantial evidence in legal action for nursing home abuse.
Apart from proof of injuries, other viable evidence may include:
Furthermore, you can use the following forms of proof to show your losses:
Filing a nursing home abuse claim against a healthcare provider or nursing home could help you recover financial compensation, including:
Settlement values for Stage 2 bedsore cases vary depending on the damages, the victim's age, and other factors. Your nursing home abuse lawyer will discuss the potential value of your settlement during your free legal case review.
Stage 2 bedsores almost always indicate nursing home abuse, specifically: neglect. If a patient receives adequate care and attention from nursing staff, the risk of developing bedsores is low, much less progressing into Stage 2 sores.
Did you or a loved one suffer bedsores due to a nursing home's negligence? If so, the experienced attorneys at Nursing Home Law Center, LLC, can provide the legal help you need.
Our team defends the legal rights of victims who contract preventable conditions caused by nursing home abuse or neglect, including bedsores, urinary tract infections, and more.
Contact our nursing home abuse lawyers at (800) 926-7565 or use the contact form for a free legal case review. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our legal team will remain private under an attorney-client relationship.
Our lawyers handle all accepted nursing home abuse cases on a contingency fee basis. You don't have to pay for our services unless we win your case.
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