What Causes Pressure Ulcers or Bedsores in New Jersey Nursing Homes?
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, roughly 2.5 million people in the United States develop pressure ulcers each year. Many of us think of pressure ulcers – more colloquially known as bedsores – as common and uncomfortable healthcare complications, but many people are surprised to learn that these wounds can actually be life-threatening in some cases.
Pressure ulcers are particularly common in nursing home facilities where patients have limited mobility, but these injuries and their complications can be prevented with the right combination of care and supervision. When nursing facilities fail to exercise this level of care, however, they may be considered liable for the suffering of their patients. Let’s explore some common causes of pressure ulcers in nursing homes and discuss what options families have for holding negligent facilities accountable for providing subpar care.
What causes bedsores in nursing homes?
Pressure ulcers – aka bedsores – are lesions that develop in response to prolonged pressure on one area of skin. These wounds are particularly common in healthcare and nursing facilities where patients with limited mobility spend extended periods of time in one position or on one surface (like a hospital bed). Here’s a brief overview of some common causes of pressure ulcers in nursing homes:
Lack of repositioning
Residents with limited mobility rely on their caregivers to keep their bodies safe and moving. In many cases, this means patients must be manually turned or repositioned by care staff on a regular basis. If a caregiver fails to reposition a patient as scheduled, the patient’s blood flow may become restricted, and pressure ulcers may form.
Poor hygiene
Bedsores can be exacerbated by moisture, which is why good hygiene is so important in nursing homes. Sweat, urine, or fecal matter can cause a patient’s skin to break down more easily under pressure, so poor hygiene practices can seriously increase the risk of bedsores. If care staff fail to swiftly change soiled sheets or otherwise adhere to hygiene protocols, they may be putting patients in harm’s way.
Malnutrition and dehydration
Hydration and nutrition are secret ingredients for healthy skin. If a nursing home resident becomes malnourished or dehydrated, their skin may be more susceptible to damage, and pressure ulcers may progress more rapidly.
Inadequate staffing
A 2024 report by the American Health Care Association found that the vast majority of nursing homes are actively seeking to hire more caregivers but are struggling to recruit additional staff.
Understaffing and frequent staff turnover can lead facilities to cut corners with respect to patient care and staff training, thus increasing the likelihood of complications like pressure ulcers.
Nursing home residents rely on their caregivers to ensure they are safe, clean, and comfortable. Subsequently, facilities that fail to employ accepted protocols for preventing bedsores may face claims of liability in the event that a patient suffers serious harm from pressure ulcers or similar conditions.
Are facilities liable for nursing home pressure ulcers?
While occasional pressure sores may not automatically scream neglect, they can definitely be a red flag. If you can show that your loved one’s sores were caused by poor supervision, inadequate hygiene, or other lapses in care, they may suggest a pattern of neglect that serves as the basis for a legal claim. An experienced nursing home abuse attorney can help you determine whether your loved one’s suffering could have been prevented with the proper care. They’ll support your efforts to hold the negligent facility accountable, if necessary.
What damages can I recover in a nursing home abuse case?
Pressure ulcers can cause serious health complications to already vulnerable patients, and many of these complications require substantial time and resources to address. When bedsores go untreated, residents may suffer secondary infections, sepsis, and other conditions that require intensive and costly intervention.
To help offset some of these costs, many families choose to pursue claims for compensation. Plaintiffs in these cases often seek damages for economic and non-economic losses, like:
- Hospital bills
- Medication costs
- Long-term care expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
If a resident’s pressure ulcers lead to fatal health complications, their family may also be able to file a wrongful death claim to recover related expenses like funeral costs. Punitive damages may be available only if the plaintiff proves by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant acted with actual malice or wanton and willful disregard.
Your nursing home abuse lawyer can help you calculate the full value of your losses and gather the supporting evidence and documentation necessary to build a strong, convincing claim. Whether your case settles out of court or ultimately goes to trial, your lawyer can help advocate for your loved one and ensure your family’s voice is heard.
Final thoughts
No one wants to think about nursing home facilities causing harm to vulnerable patients, but this is a sad reality for many elderly residents and their families. Pressure ulcers are one of the most common signs of nursing home neglect and – if left untreated – can cause serious physical, emotional, and financial harm to elderly patients and their families.
At Ferrara & Gable, we believe vulnerable members of our community should receive the best possible treatment from the facilities they entrust with their care. When nursing homes fall short of providing compassionate, competent support, our team knows what it takes to hold them accountable.
If you suspect your loved one developed pressure ulcers as a result of nursing home neglect or abuse, you may have legal options available to help you get justice. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team, and discover why so many families in Cherry Hill trust Ferrara & Gable to stand up for the most vulnerable members of our local community.