Bed Sores are More Serious than they May Sound
Bed sores or pressure ulcers, as they are known in the medical community, are one of the unfortunate side effects of lying in one position for an extended period of time, as is the case with some nursing home patients who have lost the ability to move. According to Wikipedia, bed sores on any part of the body (especially in areas where the skin is close to bones or cartilage) can also be caused by friction, humidity, shearing forces, temperature, age, continence and medication. Though a sore may sound harmless enough, and it can be if found and treated early, bed sores can actually be fatal, especially in nursing home neglect situations.The U.S. National Library of Medicine reports that it has been estimated that 95 percent of bed sores are preventable, so the injury is directly related to the kind of care provided. People who have not had experience with bed sores may not know how to recognize them. An article on Ehow.com explains that the compression of the skin causes constriction of the underlying blood vessels, which consequently fail and then die. There are four stages of this type of damage to the skin. The first stage appears as a red mark on the skin. Stage two is characterized by a blister or other kind of break-out. In the third stage the wound extends deep into the flesh and in stage four it reaches down to the bone. In stages one and two nursing home staff can easily reverse the damage by making sure to change a patient's position every two hours. Of course, bed sores can usually be prevented in this way too.
According to the Merck, patients with pressure ulcers may experience pain, pus on the wound, warmth in the area, unpleasant odor at the site and infection. It is the presence of infection that can be life threatening. Infection begins at the site of the wound and can then spread to adjacent tissue. It may also penetrate the bone or spread to the blood. Once in the bloodstream the condition is called sepsis and can quickly become fatal. Nursing home staff should regularly be examining residents for early signs of bed sores so that the patients can be repositioned before further damage occurs. The repositioning allows the blood to begin to flow properly through the area again. Keeping skin dry and clean is another important step. Sometimes foam pieces can be used to further protect bony areas such as heels and elbows from added pressure and friction. Nursing home workers should be well trained on how to identify bed sores and prevent further damage.
In most instances nursing home residents will receive a good standard of care. Sadly though, there are times when nursing home abuse and neglect occurs, sometimes intentionally and sometimes because of understaffing or lack of training. Either way, nursing home abuse is a serious issue that must be addressed to prevent further suffering. If you have a loved one who has been injured or suffered from a wrongful death due to nursing home negligence or abuse, then you need to speak to a qualified attorney.
RASANSKY LAW FIRM
2525 McKinnon Street
Dallas, Texas 75201
CALL US AT
1-877-405-4313