Bedsores in Pennsylvania Nursing Homes: When Is a Pressure Ulcer a Sign of Neglect?
Bedsores—also called pressure ulcers or pressure injuries—can cause extreme pain, infection, hospitalization, and serious medical complications.
Families often discover these wounds only after a loved one has been transferred to a hospital or another facility.
A bedsore does not automatically prove nursing home neglect. But when a resident is known to be at risk and appropriate prevention or treatment is not provided, the circumstances deserve careful review.
What Causes Bedsores?
Pressure injuries can develop when prolonged pressure reduces blood flow to the skin and underlying tissue.
Residents may be especially vulnerable if they:
- Cannot reposition themselves;
- Are confined to a bed or wheelchair;
- Have poor nutrition;
- Are dehydrated;
- Have diabetes or circulation problems;
- Experience incontinence;
- Have fragile skin; or
- Suffer from serious illness or reduced mobility.
What Should Nursing Homes Do to Prevent Pressure Injuries?
Appropriate prevention depends on the resident’s condition, but may include:
- Regular skin assessments;
- Repositioning;
- Pressure-relieving mattresses or cushions;
- Nutritional support;
- Hydration;
- Incontinence care;
- Wound monitoring; and
- Timely physician or wound-care consultation.
A care plan is only useful if staff actually follow it.
Why Does the Stage of a Bedsore Matter?
Pressure injuries can range from relatively superficial wounds to deep injuries involving muscle, tissue, or bone.
A worsening wound may raise questions about:
- How long the wound existed;
- When staff first identified it;
- Whether the family was notified;
- Whether treatment was timely;
- Whether turning and repositioning occurred;
- Whether the resident was receiving adequate nutrition; and
- Whether staffing shortages contributed to missed care.
What Records Should Families Request?
Important records may include:
- Skin assessments;
- Wound measurements;
- Photographs;
- Treatment records;
- Care plans;
- Turning and repositioning records;
- Dietary records;
- Physician orders;
- Nursing notes; and
- Hospital records.
These records can help establish when the injury began and how the facility responded.
Pittsburgh Bedsore and Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer
If your loved one developed a serious pressure injury while living in a Pittsburgh-area nursing home, the circumstances may warrant investigation.
Contact Frank Walker Law to discuss a potential nursing home bedsore lawsuit in Pennsylvania and the evidence that may be relevant.
Please like and share this article with your network. A friend or family member may discover a bedsore on a loved one and need to know that serious pressure injuries should not simply be ignored.
About Frank Walker Law
Attorney Frank Walker of Frank Walker Law is a National Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyer, and Personal Injury Attorney who has been recognized as a Super Lawyer, a member of the National College for DUI Defense, Best Attorneys in America, Best Law firms of America, America’s Greatest Attorneys, and a Top AVVO Rated attorney, with offices in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and Morgantown West Virginia.
Additionally, you can find Attorney Walker on YouTube, TikTok, the Pittsburgh Attorney Podcast and the West Virginia Attorney Podcast, where he gives legal tips (not advice!) and discusses the pressing legal issues of the day.
If you or someone you love are facing criminal charges or are seriously injured in an accident, contact Attorney Frank Walker immediately at 412-532-6805 (Pittsburgh), 304-413-0179 (Morgantown), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for aggressive and experienced Criminal Defense or Representation in a Civil Case.