Nursing Home Neglect and Pressure Ulcers or Bedsores
Serving clients and their families in Dayton, Ohio
A client sits in my Dayton office and explains that his wife is in a nursing home. She planned to go just for rehabilitation after a knee replacement. But within weeks she had developed several bedsores.
I’ve heard a similar story too many times: The cold facts are that 1 in 10 residents will develop pressure ulcers as a resident of a nursing home.
Bedsore Definition
A pressure ulcer — also called a decubitus ulcer, or more commonly a bedsore — is a lesion that develops over a bony prominence such as the sacrum, tailbone, or heels. It’s caused by unrelieved pressure that damages the underlying tissue.
Bedsore Stages
Medical experts classify bed sores into four stages:
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Stage 1: Skin shows persistent redness or discoloration and feels warm or firm
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Stage 2: Blistering or open wounds develop, affecting the first layers of skin
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Stage 3: Ulcer extends through the fat tissue, forming a deeper wound
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Stage 4: Severe damage exposing muscle, tendon, or bone — high risk of infection
Unstageable ulcers are those with dead tissue (eschar) that covers the wound and hides its full depth.
Stage 3 and Stage 4 ulcers often require surgical intervention or debridement and carry a risk of sepsis — a potentially fatal condition.
If your loved one is experiencing any forms of pressure sore, it is imperative to ensure that they receive medical attention immediately. Do not wait for a staff attendant to make this call.
Causes of Nursing Home Bed Sores
Bed sores almost always indicate a breakdown in basic care. Common causes include:
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Failure to turn and reposition residents at least every two hours
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Understaffing that leaves residents lying in one position for long periods
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Inadequate hygiene, allowing residents to sit in wet or soiled clothing
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Failure to use pressure-relieving devices like cushions and mattresses
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Poor nutrition and hydration, which slow healing
Federal law requires nursing homes to assess every resident’s risk factors upon admission and at regular intervals, often using the Braden Scale. When facilities fail to do this or ignore care plans, they can be held liable for resulting injuries.
Risk Factors for Pressure Ulcers – What Requirements are Mandated by Federal Law?
Federal law requires nursing homes to conduct an assessment of every resident on admission and at various intervals to determine their risk of developing a pressure ulcer. This assessment consists of evaluating various risk factors such as nutrition, mobility and activity, and degree of moisture exposure. If incontinence exposes a resident’s skin to frequent soaking with urine, the skin is more likely to break down and develop an ulcer. Nursing homes often use the Braden scale to assess a resident’s risk factors.
Duty of Nursing Homes
Federal regulations clearly state that residents who enter a nursing home without a pressure ulcer should not develop one unless it is medically unavoidable.
“Medically unavoidable” means the nursing home did everything required by law, including:
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Assessing risk factors (nutrition, mobility, moisture exposure)
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Implementing interventions such as regular repositioning
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Monitoring and evaluating the care plan’s effectiveness
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Updating the plan as needed
When facilities skip any of these steps, pressure ulcers are usually the result of negligence — not inevitability.
Treatment and Risks
When bed sores do occur, prompt treatment is critical. Proper care may include wound cleaning, dressings, debridement (removal of dead tissue), antibiotics, and pain management. Without proper care, the wound can quickly worsen and lead to life-threatening infections, including sepsis.
Why Choose Nancy Iler Law Firm
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Medical Insight: As a former registered nurse, Nancy Iler knows wound care protocols and can spot failures in nursing home treatment.
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Proven Track Record: Over 30 years handling nursing home neglect and pressure ulcer cases throughout Ohio.
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Aggressive Advocacy: We investigate thoroughly, work with medical experts, and demand accountability from negligent facilities.
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Contingency Fee Representation: No legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Dayton Nursing Home Bedsore FAQs
Q: Are bed sores always preventable?
A: In nearly all cases, yes. When nursing homes follow care plans and reposition residents regularly, bed sores can often be avoided entirely.
Q: How do I know if the nursing home was negligent?
A: We review medical records, staffing logs, and care plans to see if the facility failed to follow required protocols.
Q: What compensation can my family recover?
A: Damages may include medical costs, pain and suffering, and, in fatal cases, wrongful death damages.
Q: How soon should I act?
A: Quickly — early action helps preserve evidence and prevent further harm to your loved one.
Take Action Today
Bed sores are a warning sign that your loved one’s needs are not being met. You have the right to demand answers and hold the nursing home accountable.
Call Nancy Iler Law Firm today for a free, confidential consultation with an experienced Dayton nursing home bed sore attorney.
Client Review
A++. Nancy is considered by many (including myself) as a premier litigator in not only Ohio, but across the nation. She cares about her clients, her profession, and her craft. For years, she has been getting great results for her clients and her firm. But it is her dedication to fighting long odds in the face of overwhelming tort reform that sets her apart. I have looked up to Nancy throughout my own legal career and she continues to inspire me.
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Footnotes
1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Tag F314