Bed Sores Are A Sign of Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

Written by Adam Peck Category: Nursing Homes January 23rd, 2013 1 min read

What Are Bed (pressure) Sores?
When a nursing home patient is either bed or wheelchair bound, the skin on parts of their body that comes into contact with a mattress or wheelchair seat is compressed. This compression causes the blood vessels under the compressed skin to constrict, causing the skin and the underlying tissue to breakdown and die. This result of this breakdown are bed (pressure) sores.
The most common areas for bed sores are the buttocks, the hips, the heels, and the shoulders.

Recognizing the Stages of Skin Breakdown.
There are four stages of bed (pressure) sores:
Stage I : Appears as a red mark on the skin
Stage II : Appears as a blister or break in the skin
Stage III: Appears as a wound going deep into the underlying flesh
Stage IV : Appears as a wound going deeper into the flesh down to the bone.

Early Recognition and Treatment
Stages I and II are easily cured by relieving the pressure at least every two hours.
Stages III and IV require special wound care by a physician or wound care nurse.
Frequent turning and repositioning of a bed or wheel chair bound patient can avoid this terrible condition.

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Written by Adam Peck

Expertise: Personal Injury

Adam J. Peck, ESQ is a principal with Peck Law Group, APC. In 2008, Mr. Adam Peck received his Juris Doctorate from Whittier Law School where he graduated Cum Laude. His practice is primarily dedicated to representing Elders, Dependent Adults, along with their loved ones and family members, who have suffered horrific personal injuries.