Can bedsores be a sign of nursing home neglect?

Placing a loved one in an Albuquerque area nursing home can be an agonizing decision for a family. But many times, an older loved one is no longer able to take care of themselves and requires more skilled care. In these situations, a nursing home may be the best option. Most of the time a person is well taken care of by caring staff, but occasionally nursing home neglect occurs. One sign a person is neglected is if they begin suffering from bedsores.

Bedsores, which are also known as pressure ulcers, are painful sores caused by prolong pressure on a certain area of the body. Typically they occur on the lower back, heels, tailbone and hips. Elderly people are more susceptible to bedsores due to their lack of mobility. They can also occur more frequently in those who are dehydrated or malnourished or who spend an extended amount of time in wet circumstances, such as urine or feces.

In a nursing home setting, it is the responsibility of the nursing home caregivers to ensure their patients do not develop bedsores. There are many steps that can be taken to protect their residents. These include adequate nutrition, regular repositioning of a person, and daily changing of clothing. Bedsores can be painful but they can also be deadly. A severe bedsore can lead to an infection that a person is not able to recover from.

Families place immense trust in the facility and their employees who care for their elderly loved one. They expect these facilities to care for their loved one in the best possible and safest way. If a family believes that their loved one in a nursing home has been neglected, they may want to speak with a legal professional who is skilled in dealing with cases of nursing home neglect and abuse. An attorney can investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged neglect or abuse and help their client figure out what happened. They can also hold the facility responsible for any negligence.