Tampa Bed Sores Attorney
Tampa Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Assisting Clients with Bed Sore Claims
Choosing a nursing home for an elderly loved one is a daunting task, and it can be devastating to learn that a family member has sustained serious injuries as a result of nursing home abuse or neglect. Much too often, nursing home neglect leads to bed sores, which can be extremely painful and can lead to life-threatening infections. Bed sores, also known as pressure ulcers, are preventable.
When bed sores do occur and cause harm to seniors in Tampa nursing homes or assisted-living facilities, it is important to learn more about filing a nursing home abuse lawsuit and holding the facility accountable for damages. A compassionate Tampa nursing home abuse & neglect attorney at Kohn Law can begin working on your case today.
What Are Bed Sores?
The Mayo Clinic explains that bed sores, which are also known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers, are injuries that occur to a person’s skin and underlying tissue. They result from prolonged pressure on the person’s skin, which typically happens when a person remains in one position for an extended period of time. For example, people in nursing homes who are largely confined to a bed or a chair may be more likely to develop pressure ulcers than other people.
It is important for healthcare providers and family members to recognize that bed sores can develop extremely quickly, and that they can lead to severe infection. Even when infections do not develop, bed sores often are extremely painful. In most cases, when bed sores are identified quickly and treated, the person can heal. However, there are some situations in which bed sores will never heal entirely. The best way to avoid serious injuries from bed sores is to prevent them from occurring.
Common Areas Where Bed Sores Develop
Bed sores can develop on almost any area of a person’s body where there is extended pressure on the person’s skin, but some areas are more common than others, especially areas that “cover bony areas of the body,” according to the Mayo Clinic. The following are the most common places where bedsores occur:
- Heels;
- Ankles;
- Hips;
- Tailbone;
- Buttocks;
- Shoulder blades;
- Spine;
- Backs of the arms; and
- Backs of the legs.
For nursing home patients that are confined to a bed, pressure ulcers also commonly develop on the person’s back and other areas that remain in continuous and prolonged contact with the bed, such as behind the knees or on the sides of the head.
Signs and Symptoms of Bed Sores
The most frequent signs and symptoms of bed sores include the following:
- Change in the color or texture of the person’s skin;
- Swelling in areas of the skin;
- Area of a person’s skin that feels cold or warm to the touch (in comparison with other parts of the body); and
- Areas of the skin that feel tender.
How a Tampa Bed Sores Lawyer Can Help
If your elderly loved one developed bed sores and an infection at a nursing home or assisted living facility in the Tampa area, you should learn more about holding the facility accountable. An experienced Tampa nursing home neglect lawyer can assist you. Contact Kohn Law for more information about getting started on your claim.
