New Jersey Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorneys

Bedsores are often a sign of neglect or abuse

When we choose a nursing home facility for our loved ones, we trust that the facility and its nurses, doctors, and staff members will do everything they can to take care of the patients. However, thousands of nursing home patients suffer from abuse or neglect every year. These patients may be abused mentally, emotionally, physically, or even financially. Bedsores, however, are a common sign of abuse or neglect. At Leonard Legal Group, our compassionate New Jersey nursing home abuse attorneys understand that protecting your loved one is your top priority. We hold nursing home facilities responsible for neglect or abuse of the elderly.

What is a bedsore?

Bedsores are also called pressure ulcers. Pressure sores are not only injuries to the skin, but also the tissue underneath the skin. Bedsores occur as a result of continued pressure on the skin. Therefore, nursing home patients most at risk of developing bedsores are those with limited mobility. Patients who are bedridden or confined to a wheelchair are examples of patients at a high risk of developing bedsores.

Bedsores do not take long to develop, and some never fully heal. With proper care, bedsores should not appear on a patient’s skin.

Where do bedsores develop?

The areas where bedsores develop depend on the patient’s mobility.

Patients confined to a wheelchair are at risk of developing bedsores in these areas:

• Shoulder blades
• Along the spine
• Tailbone
• Buttocks

Patients who must use wheelchairs for a significant period of time may also develop bedsores on the backs of the arms and on their legs.

For bedridden patients, bedsores may appear on the:

• Hips
• Tailbone
• Head, including the ears
• Shoulders
• Feet, including the ankles, heels, and toes
• Lower back

Bedsores may appear in multiple locations on a patient’s body.

How can I tell how advanced my loved one’s bedsores are?

In many cases, nursing homes may downplay the severity of a patient’s bedsore. Bedsores develop in four stages.

During the first stage, the sore will look red and irritated. It may feel warm or spongy when touched. For those with darker skin, the area may appear blue or purple. If pressure is removed from the area, the sore will heal.

During the second stage, some skin loss is noticeable. The skin loss may have occurred in the outer layer of the skin, or in the layer underneath it. The sore may look like a blister at this point. Still, with proper treatment, the sore should heal.

In the third stage, all of the layers of the skin have suffered damage, and the sore may resemble a crater.

In the fourth and final stage, the bedsore is called “unstageable.” The skin, bones, muscles, tendons, and joints may all be damaged. At this point, it is difficult to cure the sore, and potentially deadly infections are possible.

What do I do if my loved one has bedsores?

If your loved one is in a nursing home and has shown symptoms of bedsores, you should consult with a New Jersey nursing home abuse and neglect attorney as soon as possible to find out what action you should take. Nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys ensure that the legal rights of nursing home patients are thoroughly protected.

Contact leading New Jersey nursing home abuse attorneys today if you believe someone you love has been harmed in a nursing home or other facility

At Leonard Legal Group, our New Jersey nursing home abuse attorneys act quickly to protect your loved one. Our attorneys are trained to recognize signs of abuse in nursing homes and take the necessary action to hold nursing homes accountable. To schedule your free consultation with our legal team, call our 24-hour call center at 973-984-1414 or contact us online.