A resident in a nursing home is likely dependent upon the care provided by staff members to help keep them as healthy as possible. For some who are mobility impaired, this means that they need the staff members to help them adjust their body position when they’re sitting or laying down. When they aren’t moved as they should be, there’s a chance that the resident can suffer from pressure ulcers.
A pressure ulcer is an injury to the skin that’s caused by prolonged pressure. Milder cases can impact only the skin; however, more serious cases can also affect the underlying tissues. These ulcers, which are also known as bedsores, can happen over the course of several hours or even several days.
Typically, bedsores occur on bony areas of the body since there isn’t much cushion between the skin bone and the surface that’s making contact with the skin. While they are commonly associated with immobility, pressure ulcers can also occur on areas of the body that come into contact with surfaces during transfers, such as moving a resident from the bed to a wheelchair.
The most common signs of pressure ulcers include:
- Tender spots on the skin
- An area with a temperature variation compared to surrounding skin
- Changes in the color or texture of the skin
- Drainage from the skin
- Swelling in the affected area
Anyone who has these signs needs to seek medical care because these sores can become worse and they may become infected. Bedsores on a loved one who’s in a nursing home can signal neglect. This could trigger the need to file a personal injury claim to help the resident recover the financial losses they experience because of the neglect.