Understanding the Link Between Nursing Home Abuse and Bedsores

Understanding the Link Between Nursing Home Abuse and Bedsores

Bedsores, also called pressure ulcers, happen when skin and tissue break down from being pressed on for a long time. This happens a lot to old people who live in nursing homes and can’t move around easily. Bedsores may just look like red patches at first, but they can get really deep and infected over time. They can be very bad for one’s health or even lead to death if you don’t treat them early.

When nursing homes don’t provide basic care, the residents suffer. A skilled lawyer for nursing home abuse at TopDog Law can help people who have been abused know what their legal rights are. When caregivers don’t meet the needs of residents, legal help may be necessary. This article explains the link between nursing home abuse and bedsores.

What Causes Bedsores in Nursing Homes?

Most bedsores happen when there is pressure on the skin for too long without any movement. This is a big problem in nursing homes for people who are bedridden or are in wheelchairs. The skin starts to die when it doesn’t get enough blood due to a lack of regular positioning.

Bedsores are also caused by the following:

• Friction: When a resident is moved, sheets or beds can rub against them.
• Pressure: Being in one place for too long can put pressure on the body.
• Shear: Shear is when skin moves in one way but bone stays still.

Staff should know how to keep people from getting these injuries. If they don’t, it could be abuse or neglect.

Risk Factors That Increase Bedsore Development

Because of their health, many nursing home residents are more likely to get bedsores. When you know these risk factors, you can better understand how abuse might play a part.

This is a list of common risk factors:

• Limited mobility: Not being able to move around much because of an injury, paralysis, or surgery.
• Age: Older skin is thin and heals slowly.
• Malnutrition or dehydration: Not getting enough food or water, which makes skin weak and slows healing.
• Incontinence: This makes the skin wet and increases the risk of getting an infection.
• Mental Health Conditions: Dementia or Alzheimer’s make it hard to ask for help.

Care workers need to pay close attention because of these risks. If they don’t do this, they risk the lives of the residents in their care.

When Neglect Leads to Bedsores

Bedsores can usually be prevented with proper care. That means moving residents around a lot, making sure they have enough food and drink, and checking for skin damage. When staff fail to do this, it’s often due to neglect.

There are several things that can lead to neglect:

• A lack of training or attention to detail
• Not enough staff to handle daily care
• Ignoring resident complaints or signs of pain
• Failing to clean and bandage sores in their early stages.

This lack of care is an example of abuse in a nursing home. Families might not notice at first, but the damage can be very great.

How to Identify Abuse or Neglect

There are things you can look out for if you think someone is abusing your loved one. These signs may mean that the person has been neglected or has been treated badly by the caregivers.

Look for:

• Loss of weight or dehydration that can’t be explained
• Multiple bedsores in different stages
• Beds or clothes that are dirty
• Fear or confusion when staff come in
• Staff who don’t answer call lights or requests

Write down everything you see. Take photos of any scars or poor living conditions you see. Ask your loved one about how often they are moved or checked on.

Guest Article.