What Causes Pressure Sores in Nursing Homes?
One of the most common injuries in nursing homes is pressure sores, also known as “pressure ulcers.” Even though they are one of the most common injuries to nursing home residents, they’re also one of the most preventable. Pressure sore injuries can range from mild to extremely severe, causing serious infection or death.
If your parent, sibling, spouse, child or other family member suffered pressure sore injuries in a nursing home or assisted living facility in South Carolina or anywhere in the country, he or she may be a victim of nursing home neglect or abuse. We want to help you learn more about why and how pressure ulcers form, and some of the warning signs.
How do pressure sores develop?
Pressure sores aren’t a natural consequence of living in a nursing home or being sick. They are mostly avoidable with proper nursing home care and supervision. You may have reason for suspicion if your loved one develops pressure ulcers after moving into a nursing home or living facility.
Just like all of the organs in the body, our skin needs a steady flow of blood to get a continuous supply of oxygen. When we move about, our skin gets all the blood and oxygen it needs. However, when the skin receives external pressure from a surface like a chair or bed, blood circulation and oxygenation is disrupted in that area.
Since most of us freely move around during the day, losing circulation and oxygen in parts of our skin is rarely an issue. In many nursing homes, however, residents are wheelchair- or bed-bound, which puts their bodies in almost constant contact with mattresses, chairs, or other types of surfaces for long periods. Caregivers must move and reposition these residents on a regular basis, usually every few hours. If they fail to do so, the pressure will continue, and blood and oxygen will be unable to travel to that area of tissue on the resident’s body.
Eventually, this pressure causes the tissue to break down and die, usually over a period of weeks to months. This is why it’s called a “pressure ulcer.” Initially these ulcers are small and treatable but, even in the early stages, they can quickly progress into life-threatening and debilitating injuries.
In the beginning stages, pressure sores are open, moist, pink or reddish in color, and typically come with the following symptoms:
- Pain or soreness
- Discharge or pus
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Warmth around the ulcer
Pressure sores are highly prone to infection, which puts the elderly with compromised immune systems at an even higher risk. In severe cases, pressure sores can penetrate down to the bone.
Pressure ulcers are commonly found on the bonier areas of the body, like ankles, knees, hip bones, shoulders, or elbows. However, they can develop on any part of the body, including the back, buttocks, or legs.
If you notice any of the signs and symptoms of pressure ulcers on your loved one, you may be concerned that they are being neglected by their caregivers. Your may have cause to file a claim for neglect or abuse against the nursing home or living facility.
The nursing home neglect lawyers at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC work to protect elderly residents in South Carolina and throughout the country. If your loved one suffered a pressure sore injury at their nursing home, we can help hold the negligent parties responsible and seek maximum compensation. Contact Johnny Felder or a member of our legal team today at 803-327-7800 or complete our contact form.
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Randy is the former President of the South Carolina Association for Justice. He has been certified by the American Board of Professional Liability as a specialist in Medical Malpractice Law which is recognized by the South Carolina Bar. Randy has also been awarded the distinction of being a “Super Lawyer” 10 times in the last decade. He has over 25 years of experience helping injured people fight back against corporations, hospitals and wrong-doers.
Read more about S. Randall Hood