If your loved one is a nursing home resident, you may wonder if the level of care is sufficient to minimize the threat of bedsores.
It is commonly thought that bedsores develop when a patient is immobile for a long period of time, but research shows they can appear much more quickly.
Bedsores explained
When a patient must remain in bed for an extended period of time or is otherwise unable to move about on a regular basis, his or her body weight bearing down on a pressure point may cause a bedsore to develop. However, bedsores can appear in as little as two hours, an alarming circumstance since elderly nursing home residents represent the group most at risk for complications.
Serious consequences
The identification of a bedsore requires immediate treatment and possible hospitalization. Stage two bedsores are the most common, indicating that a lapse in monitoring the condition of the patient has occurred. If it reaches a stage four level of severity, a bedsore can cause decay of skin, muscle and surrounding tissues at the site. Complications can include such issues as cellulitis, bone and joint infections, anemia and osteomyelitis. In elderly patients, complications can also lead to death.
Next steps
Serious medical issues can arise unexpectedly. When routine practices become lax, such as staff neglecting to turn a resident confined to bed on a regular schedule, a nursing home must accept responsibility for any harm that results. Family members concerned about lack of proper care for a loved one afflicted with bedsores can explore available options including filing a personal injury claim.
