Bedsores can occur in a variety of ways, and they’re often overlooked by nursing home caretakers.
The nursing home is generally a safe place, but staffs are susceptible to lapses in judgement or competency, and this leads to cases of medical negligence. Being part of a cases where a loved one was improperly treated is never a positive thing, and it’s important for families to seek help during these trying times. A common result at nursing homes is when patients suffer from a condition known as bedsores. Bedsores can occur in a variety of ways, and they’re often overlooked by nursing home caretakers.
The Causes
Decubitus ulcers, also known as bedsores, are mostly caused by an extended period of immobility. For example, if an elderly patient is lying in the same position for a prolonged period, they become susceptible to bedsores. Most nursing homes dictate that patients should be turned every two hours. If that doesn’t happen, the risk of bedsores increases dramatically. Staff members are trained to make sure they’re practicing the best repositioning techniques, while also consistently changing the bedding and clothing for the patient. These things need to happen, but that’s not always the case. This injury typically occurs around the hips or back. The elderly patients in nursing homes have weaker bones, meaning bedsores can lead to extreme damage.
The Effects
If bedsores are detected in a patient, it essentially means that the medical standard of care was not followed. Each person will react in uniquely different ways, but bedsores have a direct impact on a person’s overall quality of life. It’s not only the lack of turning that can lead to them, but also poor hygiene as well. Bedsores give way to weaker bones, muscles, and even joints. They can also be fatal if not treated with the proper amount of care and immediacy. It’s a frightening situation, but ultimately preventable.
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