Bedsores Attorney in Omaha

Did You Suffer Bedsores at a Nursing Home in Nebraska?

Bedsores, also known as pressure sores or pressure ulcers, are a common problem among hospital and nursing home patients. Professional caregivers should know about the dangers of bedsores developing, especially on patients with limited mobility, and need to take steps to prevent them. Oftentimes, elderly patients enter a nursing home with bedsores already forming, and the facility's staff may be responsible for treating these sores and preventing them from getting worse.

If you have noticed bedsores on your elderly family member at a nursing home or other facility, call our Omaha nursing home neglect attorney at Bottlinger Law L.L.C. for a free consultation. It may be possible that your family member’s caregivers or facility are partially liable for any bedsore-related injury suffered.

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What Are Bedsores?

Bedsores are a type of wound that occurs due to constant pressure being placed on a certain region of a person's body. People lying on their back, for example, have pressure from their bones weighing down on the muscles and skin underneath them. Over time, this pressure causes a loss of blood flow and oxygen to the area, which results in damage to the skin and underlying tissue. Certain locations on a person's body are more likely to develop bedsores, particularly the shoulder blades, back or sides of the head, hip, lower back, tailbone, heels, ankles, and behind the knees.

There are four stages of bedsores that develop over time, progressing from one to the next if they are not properly treated. These are, in order of escalating seriousness:

• Stage 1: This is a new bedsore that is just beginning to form and is not necessarily painful. The skin is not broken but appears red and usually warm or cool to the touch.
• Stage 2: When the sore becomes an open wound in the skin. The outer layer of skin has been damaged or destroyed, and deeper layers may be damaged too.
• Stage 3: A deepening of the bedsore where serious skin loss occurs. Fat or other tissue may be visible at this point, and the wound is infected.
• Stage 4: At this point, tissue has been damaged and lost, including muscles and tendons. Bone might be visible through this type of sore.

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Can Bedsores Be Treated or Prevented?

At early stages, bedsores can be treated, though it becomes much more difficult as bedsores worsen. Early-stage bedsores need to be treated and kept clean to prevent infection, while later stages can require surgical treatment and may take years to heal.

Prevention is the simplest way to deal with bedsores, and can be done by regularly repositioning and moving people who are in wheelchairs or confined to a bed. This relieves pressure at key locations and keeps bedsores from developing or worsening.

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What Do I Do If My Loved One Has Bedsores?

If your loved one develops bedsores while in the care of a skilled nursing facility, it may be a sign of neglect by the nursing home staff. If you see signs of neglect, call our legal team at Bottlinger Law L.L.C. to discuss your case and potential legal options. For a free consultation, dial (402) 505-8234.

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Additional Information

• Pressure Sores - Merck Manual
• Pressure Sores - MedlinePlus