A Collierville nursing home is supposed to be a safe space for the elderly and disabled to get the medical and emotional treatment they deserve. Bedsores are preventable injuries that nursing home residents suffer, also known as pressure sores and pressure ulcers. They often occur when there is no movement, and the weight of a person’s body places pressure on a specific area, and it is an injury to the skin.
A bedsore can show in any body part but is commonly seen on the buttocks, hips, or ankles. Many victims of bedsores die within a year from complications like sepsis. Contact a personal injury lawyer in Collierville, TN, from Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC.
Causes of Bedsores
While the most common reason for a bedsore is failure to reposition residents, many other causes exist. Staff must reposition residents so that no body area receives constant pressure. However, overly elevated beds and improper nutrition are other causes of bedsores.
An overly elevated bed can lead to excessive wear on the resident’s head, especially, causing a head bedsore which is one of the most horrific and painful for patients. Nursing home staff must ensure they take residents to the bathroom and change their diapers. If they do not, it can cause infection and other complications.
When residents cannot bathe, caregivers must help them and dry the resident afterward. Moisture can weaken tissue and make it easier for bedsores to form. Residents must also be kept dry after they use the bathroom.
Regardless of the cause of the bedsore, you need a nursing home bedsore attorney in Collierville, TN, to investigate the facility and recover compensation on your behalf. Your loved one deserves adequate care for their condition.
Stages of Bedsores
The severity of bedsores can range from one to four stages. Stage one is the most minor, and stage four is the most severe. Stage one is when there are painful red marks but no torn skin yet.
Stage two results in a break in the skin, and an ulcer is tender and painful. They look like cuts or blisters to the untrained eye. Treatment options are available for stages one and two, but stages three and four can be challenging to treat.
Stage three pressure sores go into the tissue and are more profound than in stage two. It is a small crater, and you will begin to see fat but will not yet see bone or muscle tissues. Stage four is much deeper than stage three and affects the bone and muscles. The joints and tendons are also susceptible to injury in stage four ulcers.
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Monitoring and Preventing Bedsores
Bedsores are the direct result of neglect; caregivers must turn patients, so they are not in one position for too long. When there is understaffing or lack of communication, neglect is prevalent. In addition to mobility, lack of nutrition and water is vital to prevent bedsores.
Suppose the person is in a long-term care facility. In that case, the facility will not receive medical reimbursement for any treatment they provide because bedsores are preventable. The insurance company feels the facility that caused the injury should pay for the treatment.
On the other hand, nursing home facilities refuse to admit they did anything wrong, and in the middle is the person with a bedsore waiting to feel better. It is often up to the victim and their family to spot the signs of a developing sore and report it to the appropriate parties. Once you report the injury, you also need to monitor the treatment to ensure it improves.
This additional monitoring can mean visiting your loved one more often, taking pictures, and reviewing medical documents. Most importantly, consulting with a Collierville nursing home bedsore attorney.
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Treatment and Complications from Bedsores
Bedsores have many complications, mainly infections in the bones and joints. Sepsis is the worst complication because it can be fatal, causing the patient’s organs to fail. Stage four bed sores can lead to septic arthritis, which damages the cartilage and tissues.
Treatment is essential to prevent further injury or death. You will need a specialist who knows how to treat bedsores and can devise a care plan.
A specialist will work on mobility, nutrition, hydration, and wound care. They will work to reduce the pressure by moving patients more often than they would normally. This can mean moving them every fifteen minutes instead of every two hours.
Additionally, they will use special tools like mattresses, beds, and cushions that can help relieve the pressure. Cleaning the area is also vital to recovery because it prevents infections. Depending on the severity and individual needs, a specialist may need to perform a debridement where they cut away severely damaged or dead tissue.
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A Legal Claim for Bedsores
Stage three and four bedsores are painful and should never happen. You will need a Collierville nursing home bedsore lawyer to determine the best legal resource for your loved one. We can seek compensation for medical treatment, costs for changing facilities, and pain and suffering.
While you recover monetarily, the facility must change staff or protocols. Filing a bedsore claim can also trigger a state investigation into the facility and its practices. Many changes will come from taking legal action that protects your loved one and others.
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Why You Need a Collierville Nursing Home Bedsore Lawyer
Considering that the insurance company will not pay for medical treatment and the nursing home is not keen on admitting fault, it seems evident that you need legal assistance from Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu, and Montesi, PLC. The key is to prove negligence by reviewing medical documents, photographs and conducting an investigation. We need to establish that the facility had a duty to provide adequate care, and they failed to fulfill that duty.