Making the decision to admit a loved one to a nursing home is never easy. After it’s done, learning that they are suffering from bedsores due to neglect from caregivers adds insult to injury.
If you are concerned about the quality of care that your elderly and/ or disabled relative is getting, the following information is about decubitus ulcers (the medical term for bedsores).
Bedsores are a preventable injury
Bedsores can develop over hours, which is why each shift of caregivers must carefully note and chart the skin integrity of patients who are bed-bound or otherwise have low mobility. When bedsores are noted and treated promptly, they are likely to heal without serious complications.
Unfortunately, when staff neglect to do more than cursory skin checks and charting, these wounds can fester and worsen. Some bedsores lead to fatal consequences for the suffering patients.
Negligence requires accountability
Bedsores are painful, and the accompanying infection can add strain to bodies that are already weakened by disability and disease. When the health care system breaks down, it is the most vulnerable patients who face the worst risk. Some may also no longer be able to communicate with the nursing home staff, necessitating that nurses and aides examine them closely to identify any skin breaks or infection.
Be an ally and advocate for your loved ones’ care
If you suspect that your loved one is not receiving the level of care needed to manage their condition(s), you can speak up and be their voice when they no longer can speak for themselves.
Should your concerns not be timely or satisfactorily addressed by the health care providers, you can then pursue civil justice through the New York judicial system.