The difficult decision to move a loved one into a nursing home is quite common. However, this information doesn’t make it any easier when trusting others to take adequate care of your loved ones . While most nursing homes provide good and proper care for their elderly patients, unfortunately there are others that are guilty of neglect.
Nursing home neglect and improper care can result in worsening medical conditions, most notably bed sores — also known as pressure sores. 26% of patients with pressure ulcers or bedsores are in nursing or residential homes. These debilitating and painful injuries can make patients’ lives unbearable, and nursing homes need to be held accountable. Let’s discuss the obligation of nursing facilities to prevent and treat bed sores, the circumstances under which a bed sore indicates neglect, and the legal rights of victims.
How Nursing Homes Must Prevent Bed Sores
Bed sore prevention is the responsibility of every healthcare worker in a nursing home. A full prevention program must be in place for every resident and should include:
- Assessment of risk — When residents are being admitted to a nursing home, a full physical assessment needs to be done to identify risks for developing any new conditions, including bed sores. These risks also include poor nutrition, dehydration, and underlying medical conditions such as diabetes.
- Care plan development — Based on the risk-assessment, a care plan should be developed for each resident. This plan should outline specific ways to prevent pressure ulcers that’s tailored to the patient’s needs and limitations.
- Adequate nutrition and hydration — Proper diet and hydration is extremely important for skin health and wound healing. Nursing facilities must ensure that residents get a balanced diet with enough protein, vitamins, and minerals as well as adequate fluid intake.
- Proper skin hygiene — Patients’ skin must be kept clean and dry, and regular skin evaluations need to be done to identify early signs of bed sores.
- Changing positions — It’s extremely important that residents are repositioned frequently in their beds to promote blood flow and relieve pressure on vulnerable areas.
- Proper training — Nursing home staff should be trained on bed sore prevention and treatment of bed sores. This includes recognizing risk factors, implementing preventative measures, and identifying early signs of skin breakdown.
Proper Care Practices for Bed Sores
Despite one’s best efforts, bed sores can still occur. When they do, prompt and proper treatment is important. Nursing home staff must know how to treat bed sores with standard care that includes:
- Assessment — The bed sore should be assessed and staged according to the amount of tissue damage. Staging helps guide treatment and track progress.
- Daily cleansing — The wound should be cleansed daily with a gentle solution to remove debris and bacteria.
- Debridement — Dead or damaged tissue (debridement) may need to be removed in order for the resident to heal.
- Wound dressings — The correct wound dressing should be applied to keep the wound moist, protect it from infection, and absorb excess drainage.
- Infection control — Bed sores are prone to infection. Signs of infection must be treated with antibiotics.
- Pain management — Bed sores can be very painful. Pain medication should be provided as needed to keep the patient comfortable.
- Nutritional support — Adequate nutrition and hydration is key to wound healing, and the patient’s diet should be optimized to provide the necessary nutrients.
- Pressure relief — Continued pressure relief is essential to prevent further damage and healing.
When a Bed Sore Becomes Neglect
A bed sore becomes a sign of neglect when there is a distinct failure to implement/follow preventative measures, or a failure to recognize and treat bed sores that have already formed. This neglect can be a result of multiple factors, including understaffing, lack of training, or a blatant disregard for the nursing home residents’ health.
Legal Rights for Bed Sore Victims
Untreated bed sores can lead to pain, infection, sepsis, and even death. Nursing home residents have legal rights that are protected by federal and state laws. These rights include the right to receive proper care, the right to be free from neglect and abuse, and the right to a safe and comfortable living environment.
When a nursing home fails to meet these standards and a resident develops a bed sore due to neglect, the resident or their family may have a legal case. Possible legal claims may include a medical malpractice claim, a negligence claim, or even a wrongful death claim. A nursing home bed sores lawsuit can recover damages including medical bills, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.
Bed Sore Prevention Every Family Should Know
Families play a crucial role in advocating for their loved ones in nursing homes and ensuring that they receive proper care. Frequent visits, communication with nursing home staff, and monitoring of the resident’s skin conditions can prevent bed sores from occurring. Additionally, be sure to promptly report any suspected neglect or abuse.
The nursing home abuse attorneys of Zelenitz, Shapiro & D’Agostino offer nursing home neglect law services to seniors and their family members in Queens and the other boroughs of NYC including Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island. If your loved one is in a nursing home and is suffering from bed sores, call us at 718-523-1111 or request a free consultation today and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.