What are Warning Signs of Bed Sores in Nursing Homes?
When you admit your loved one into a nursing home, you trust that the staff members within that facility will provide them with the highest quality of care and protect their best interests at all times. Although many facilities in Tampa, and throughout Florida, provide residents with excellent care, others fail to ensure elderly individuals are properly cared for. One of the most common signs of insufficient care is bed sores. Bed sores, also known as pressure ulcers or pressure sores, are defined as an injury to the skin or the underlying tissue as a result of pressure or friction.
Bed sores pose a serious health threat to nursing home residents. Below, our Tampa bed sores attorneys outline the warning signs, and where these sores are most likely to be formed.
Early Warning Signs of Bed Sores
It is essential to identify the early warning signs of bed sores so you can get your loved one the treatment they need and prevent them from moving into advanced stages. When visiting your loved one in the facility, it is important to look for signs of distress. If your family member says that they are experiencing pain or discomfort, it could mean that they are developing a bed sore. If your family member is non-verbal but they show facial expressions of pain when they are moved, this could also indicate that they are suffering from a bed sore.
Bed sores are categorized into stages and the further the stage, the more developed and the more dangerous a bedsore is. Bed sores are easiest to treat when they are identified early. When a bed sore progresses to a late stage, such as Stage IV, it can result in the death or damage of tissue and serious infections. Warning signs of a Stage 1 bedsore are as follows:
- The skin remains unbroken
- The skin is red or discolored and does not become lighter when it is touched
- The site of the injury may be tender, soft, firm, painful, and cool or warm compared to surrounding skin
The skin of nursing home residents should always be examined by loved ones when they visit to spot bed sores as early as possible so they can be treated right away.
Where Do Bed Sores Appear?
Bed sores are more likely to develop when nursing home residents are confined to one place for an extended period of time. Due to this, bed sores are more likely to appear in certain places. For people who are confined to a wheelchair, bed sores are most likely to appear in the following places:
- The spine and shoulder blades
- Buttocks or tailbone
- Backs of legs and arms where they rest against the chair
For nursing home residents who are confined to a bed, the most common spots for bed sores include:
- Around the ears
- The sides or back of the head
- Lower back, hip, or tailbone
- Shoulder blades or shoulders
- Ankles, heels, and skin behind the knees
Our Bed Sores Attorney in Tampa Can Help Your Family
If your loved one has suffered injury and you believe nursing home negligence is to blame, our Tampa bed sores attorney at Kohn Law can help. Call us today at 813-428-8504 or chat with us online to schedule a consultation and to learn more about your legal options.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0400/0400.html
