Florida Nursing Home Bedsore Injuries
Pressure Ulcers Caused by Nursing Home Negligence
Nursing homes allow the elderly a place where they can live comfortably with the assistance of skilled caregivers that can cater to their specific needs be they medical or menial. This is a massive responsibility not to be taken lightly since many of the people in the care of nursing homes are especially vulnerable. The elderly make up the top demographic of people susceptible to injury and disease as well as the development of medical complications from diseases that younger demographics may not consider all that serious.
These vulnerable elderly residents of nursing homes and other care facilities can suffer from neglect and become seriously injured. An injury that has plagued many residents of nursing homes is the pressure ulcer or as they're more commonly known, bedsores.
What is a Bedsore or Pressure Ulcer?
A pressure ulcer is a sort of skin injury that is caused by prolonged pressure being placed on a specific site of the skin. This kind of injury is most commonly found on areas of the skin that cover bony areas of the body like the shoulder blades, ankles, heels, hips, and the tailbone. Bedsore injuries are not only skin deep. A bedsore injury can extend to the deeper tissue and lead to some further issues.
Those at risk for bedsores are people with conditions that limit their mobility and see them stuck in the same position in bed or a chair for long periods of time. Naturally, there are quite a few elderly people with medical conditions that place them within this high-risk group. Many sores heal on their own with enough time and steps taken to remove the pressure that caused them but sometimes bedsore can require medical intervention if it has had enough time unaddressed.
Symptoms of Nursing Home Bedsores
- Unusual changes in skin color or texture
- Swelling
- Pus-like draining
- An area of the skin that feels abnormally warmer or cooler than other areas
- Tender or irritated areas
Complications of Bedsores in Nursing Homes
Bedsores are an injury that damages the skin and tissue around the bonier parts of the body that receive pressure and friction with a bed surface over long periods of immobilization and like many other injuries that damage the protective skin, there is a risk of infection. Bedsore infections have severe consequences since they have the potential to spread to the deeper parts of tissue a sore may be in close proximity to.
In order for a bedsore to become infected, it takes serious neglect on the part of the caregiver and facility. Infections of a bedsore could result in cellulitis which is a skin infection that can become significantly harmful and also in bone infections that may damage the cartilage and joints of an afflicted nursing home resident.
Many of those nursing home residents that are at risk for bedsores have other conditions that may have immobilized them in the first place. A bedsore can make things even more dangerous for an already struggling elderly individual when it comes to their health. The infections can easily complicate their existing conditions.
Bedsores at a Nursing Home May Indicate Bigger Problems
When someone develops a bedsore injury while in the care of a nursing home, there may be more to the problem than just the injury itself. It takes a certain environment for bedsores that cause issues to develop. Many facilities will have procedures and policies in place to ensure that residents that may be at risk for bedsores are moved and shifted in position regularly so that bedsores do not develop.
On the other hand, these kinds of procedures and policies either may not be in place at an elder care facility or will simply be ignored. This itself is an indicator that the facility is not up to par and should be a red flag. Facilities that allow bedsores to happen could be incompetent, poorly staffed, understaffed, or outright abusive. Understaffing is one of the more common reasons that a nursing home resident may develop bedsores.
This understaffing provides an environment in which many forms of elder abuse and neglect can take place. Physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, etc. can all happen when there are not enough caregivers to properly run a facility. People take advantage of the lack of supervision or grow frustrated over the amount of work and residents suffer.
Suing Because of Bedsore Injuries
Those that have suffered bedsore injuries will have extensive damages in the form of medical expenses, pain and suffering, and possibly wrongful death damages if an injury proved fatal. These damages can add up quite a bit but those who have sustained them have the opportunity to seek compensation through a bedsore injury claim. A bedsore injury claim can hold a liable entity like a elder care facility accountable for the negligence they demonstrated.
In order to successfully pursue a bedsore injury claim, a plaintiff must prove that they suffered a significant injury due to the negligence of a care facility. This can involve a variety of evidence sources, negotiation, and navigation of the legal process that can be overwhelming to those not well versed in the nuance of personal injury law. With an attorney experienced in handling bedsore injury claims in your corner, you stand a much better chance of successfully receiving compensation.
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury due to the neglect of an assisted living facility, nursing home, or other similar facilities, then do not hesitate to contact Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA about a free consultation on your possible claim. Our skilled lawyers will sit down with you to lay out your options for legal action and how they can use their expertise to secure you the settlement that you deserve.
With the lawyers of Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA on your side, you can rest easy knowing that you have a law firm that can back up their claims with a long list of successful cases. Your case will be given the personal attention one would expect from a small firm but will benefit from the resources and reap the results of a large firm. The damages you suffered should not go uncompensated. Consider Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA as your representation in your pursuit to hold those responsible for your injuries accountable for their negligence.
For a free consultation on your claim you can contact us online or call (727) 451-6900
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 451-6900
https://www.dolmanlaw.com/nursing-home-abuse-lawyer/florida/
Matthew Dolman
Personal Injury Lawyer
This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has successfully fought for more than 11,000 injured clients and acted as lead counsel in more than 1,000 lawsuits. Always on the cutting edge of personal injury law, Matt is actively engaged in complex legal matters, including Suboxone, AFFF, and Ozempic lawsuits. Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.
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