One of a nursing home’s most basic responsibilities is to take care of residents’ medical needs. Facilities are responsible for responding promptly and appropriately to any injuries that do occur, as well as preventing injuries from occurring in the first place.
Unfortunately, too many nursing homes in Alabama don’t meet even that basic standard of care, and the consequences can be devastating. We’ve seen over and over again what happens when nursing homes let residents suffer. One telltale sign of such neglect is a wound that won’t heal.
What causes wounds in nursing homes?
The most common wounds that occur in nursing home residents are bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers. A bedsore is caused by a lack of blood flow to the skin for an extended period of time. In people who are bedridden or have limited mobility, prolonged pressure on certain parts of the skin from lying in the same position for too long can cause bedsores. They most commonly occur on the bony parts of the body: heels, ankles, shoulder blades, back and side of the knees, and back of the head.
Nursing homes can prevent bedsores by making sure residents are regularly turned in bed to relieve pressure on those parts of the body. They also need to perform regular body audits to check for developing bedsores and ensure that they are treated appropriately. When they fail in those responsibilities, serious and even deadly wounds can develop.
Proper wound treatment in nursing homes
When nursing home residents develop bedsores and similar wounds, the facility needs to act quickly to ensure the resident gets proper treatment, including but not limited to:
- Relieving pressure on the affected area through position changes as well as special cushions or mattresses.
- Keeping the wound clean and covered to avoid infection.
- Ensuring proper nutrition and hydration to promote healing.
- In some cases, surgically removing damaged tissue.
Nursing homes can perform some of these services themselves. They are also responsible for taking the resident to the hospital or another appropriate medical facility if needed to get proper treatment.
If a wound won’t heal, it could be nursing home neglect
There’s no excuse for allowing nursing home residents to develop bedsores and allowing them to go untreated. A Stage 3 or 4 bedsore, in particular, is a telltale sign of serious nursing home neglect. In a properly staffed and properly run nursing home, any such injuries should be either prevented entirely or caught quickly and treated appropriately to prevent them from getting to that stage. However, in understaffed and under-resourced facilities, resident care often falls by the wayside, and residents can be left to languish in bed for days or weeks with untreated wounds.
If your loved one sustained a wound that won’t heal in a nursing home, we would be honored to listen to your story and explain your legal rights and options. We have a winning track record of results in nursing home neglect cases, including a $1 million recovery for the family of a resident who died due to bedsores. Contact Shuttlesworth Law Firm, P.C. for a free, confidential consultation.
"I retained the Shuttlesworth Law Firm to handle a long-term care facility case for me. Perry and his staff were prompt, responsive, professional, and courteous throughout, and most importantly, they provided highly competent legal service. They couldn't have done a better job for me." — Rick, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
