Sarasota Assisted Living Bed Sores Attorney
Residents of assisted living facilities in Sarasota often are somewhat mobile and able to provide some care for themselves, but require assistance with certain activities of daily living. When a resident of an assisted living facility suffers an injury that requires that resident to be confined to a wheelchair or to their bed for a longer period of time, it is critical for that resident to receive regular and timely care to prevent bed sores and any other types of infections. If you have a loved one who developed bed sores in an assisted living facility in Southwest Florida, you should seek advice from a Sarasota assisted living bed sores attorney as soon as possible.
What Are Bed Sores in Assisted Living in Sarasota?
Bed sores are also known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers, according to the Mayo Clinic. These are injuries that affect the skin, as well as the tissue underneath the skin in more serious cases, and they result from prolonged pressure on the skin. Bed sores are much too common in places where people are sitting or laying down for extended periods of time, including in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Indeed, as the Mayo Clinic explains, “people most at risk of bed sores have medical conditions that limit their ability to change positions or cause them to spend most of their time in a bed or chair.”
Stages of Sarasota Bed Sores in Assisted Living
Bed sores are classified according to their severity, and those classifications are listed in stages. The least serious type of bed sores are stage 1 bed sores, while the most serious are stage 4 bedsores. According to WebMD, bed sore stages can be understood as follows:
- Stage 1 bed sores affect the upper layer of the skin, and they tend to cause pain, as well as sensations of burning and itching. Signs of a stage 1 bedsore may include redness in the area of warmth. With a stage 1 bed sore, moving the patient regularly and cleaning the pressure ulcers typically will allow the pressure ulcers to heal properly without additional treatment.
- Stage 2 pressure ulcers are more serious, affecting the layer of skin below the surface and causing an open wound. These stages of bed sores appear as blisters and typically cause a significant amount of pain. Stage 2 bedsores may require medical treatment.
- Stage 3 bedsores are significantly more serious because they not only affect the outer layer of skin and the skin below the outer surface, but they also affect the patient’s fat tissue. At stage 3, a bed sore requires medical attention immediately, and it can take months for this stage of bed sore to heal even with proper treatment.
- Stage 4 bedsores are the most serious and can affect a person’s ligaments, muscles, and tendons. A stage 4 bedsore requires emergency medical attention and is often deadly.
Contact Kohn Law Today
Kohn Law can help you if you need to file a bed sores lawsuit against an assisted living facility. We have years of experience serving clients in Southwest Florida. Contact our experienced Sarasota assisted living bed sores attorney today for assistance with your claim.