Pressure Injuries in Nursing Homes: What You Need to Know

Pressure injuries, also known as bed sores or pressure ulcers, are a serious problem for nursing home residents. They are caused by prolonged pressure on bony prominences, such as the sacrum, heels and elbows, which prevents blood from flowing freely. Over time, this can lead to skin death, open wounds, infections, and even death. Understanding the causes and treatments of these injuries is essential for keeping nursing home residents safe and comfortable.

Pressure injuries can occur when nursing homes are understaffed, because residents are left to languish in their beds or wheelchairs, neglected, for long periods of time. People with limited mobility are particularly vulnerable as they often fail to shift positions frequently enough to prevent the formation of such sores.

To prevent pressure injuries in nursing homes it is important that nursing home have enough staff to assists residents with repositioning several times throughout the day, to relieve pressure. Proper nutrition and hydration are also essential in order to maintain healthy skin that is resilient enough to resist injury. Nursing staff should also ensure that all areas of skin are examined and inspected regularly so any potential problems can be spotted early on before they become more serious wounds.

If your loved one has developed a pressure wound, it must be treated right away. Reach out to your loved one's physician so he or she can inspect the wound and ensure that proper treatment is being provided by nursing home staff. Depending on its severity antibiotics may need to be prescribed along with ointments or creams that help keep it clean and free from infection while it heals. In cases where there is severe tissue damage or an advanced stage of infection, surgical treatment may be necessary to prevent further complications. It’s important to work with your loved one's physician to ensure that nursing home staff are providing proper care to heal the wound.

Shayla Reed, nursing home abuse and neglect attorney and founder of Reed Law Offices, PC, LLO can help you determine your legal options and work with you to ensure that your loved one receives the care they deserve. Reed Law Offices also helps families hold nursing homes accountable for injuries and death caused by neglect, abuse, and gross negligence.

Call us at (402) 933-0588 or send us a message online through our website to schedule a free, confidential, and no-obligation consultation.

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Reed Law Offices, PC, LLO

The Nursing Home Neglect Law Firm