If you have a loved one in a nursing home, you want to know that they are being taken care of and that they’re in good, safe hands. Nursing home abuse is often the last thing that crosses our minds when it comes to the care of our loved ones, but it’s more common than we initially think. In fact, according to data from NursingHomeAbuse.org, as many as 5 million elders are abused each year.

Bedsores can be a sign of nursing home abuse, though that’s not always necessarily the case. In this blog post, we’ll go over how bedsores can be a sign of nursing home abuse and what you can do if you suspect a loved one of yours is being abused by their nursing home staff.

At The Edwards Law Firm, we have Tulsa personal injury lawyers that can help you with your nursing home abuse case as well as several other legal situations. Give us a call today to schedule your free, no-obligation case assessment, and continue reading below to learn more about bedsores and how they correlate with nursing home abuse.  

What are bedsores?

Bedsores, also known as decubitus ulcers or pressure ulcers, are sores that develop and appear on the areas of the body that experience great amounts of pressure compared to other areas of the body. They mostly affect individuals who spend long periods of time in one position (usually lying down) and are typically seen on bonier parts of the body.

Bedsores can develop on multiple areas of the body, but they’re most commonly developed in the following areas:

  • Ankles
  • Back
  • The back of the head
  • Buttocks
  • Elbows
  • Heels
  • Hip bones
  • Shoulder blades

People who cannot easily move by themselves are more susceptible to bedsores, which is why the elderly is an age group that sees this condition more often than other age groups. If an elder is immobile, it’s the responsibility of nursing home staff to help them move around to prevent bedsores from developing.

Treatments for bedsores aren’t easy. In order to properly and effectively treat bedsores, there are several steps that should be taken either by you or by your loved one’s nursing home staff. Those treatments include some of the following:

  • Removing pressure from the bedsore areas.
  • Cleaning any wounds and removing any dead tissue.
  • Using antibiotic cream.

Most of these treatments can be done at home; however, if neglected, bedsores can worsen and be even more painful. If your loved one does develop bedsores, seek assistance from a health care professional immediately.

Can bedsores be prevented by nursing home staff?

If you inform your nursing home about your loved one’s mobility condition, it’s safe to expect that nursing home staff will reposition or help move your loved one when necessary to prevent bedsores and other painful health conditions. If any bedsores worsen or other health conditions arise under nursing staff supervision, you could have a valid nursing home abuse case on your hands.

What happens if the bedsores are unattended to and worsen? Well, they can cause a number of health issues, including a few of the following:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma — also known as skin cancer.
  • Cartilage and tissue damage.
  • Skin, joint and bone infections.
  • Even less mobility, which can indirectly lead to an array of other health issues, such as pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis and more.

If your loved one’s bedsores occurred by accident, remember to regularly check in on the nursing home to ensure they are taking the proper measures to help heal the bedsores. If you believe they aren’t being attended to the way they should be, it might be time to report and file a claim for nursing home abuse.

Not sure where to start when it comes to reporting nursing home abuse? Check out our blog post that explains what you should do if you ever are in a situation where you have to. If you require any additional legal assistance, don’t be afraid to reach out to our team of personal injury attorneys.

Choose Our Tulsa Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers

At The Edwards Law Firm, we’re proud to be trusted, reliable personal injury lawyers in Tulsa and several other Oklahoma communities. We can provide you with legal counsel in regards to nursing home abuse, and we’ll fight tirelessly to ensure you receive the justice and compensation you deserve for your loved ones. We’ve won millions in compensation for previous clients — let us see if we can help you with your nursing home abuse case.

Contact us today for more information or to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. You can reach our team of nursing home abuse attorneys by calling (918) 221-0516 or our toll-free number at (888) 600-9836 during business hours. You can also complete our form online and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!