South Carolina has numerous nursing homes throughout the state, including the Greenville metropolitan area. Ideally, nursing facilities should provide a safe environment for the residents during their sunset years, but cases of neglect and abuse do occur.
Bedsores are a common complication arising from various states of neglect. Immobility, lack of proper nutrition and hydration, and blood circulation problems due to illnesses such as diabetes are all common risk factors for bedsores.
If your loved one has been a victim of neglect and sustained personal injuries, a bedsore attorney can help you establish the facility’s liability and pursue compensation. At Dan Pruitt Injury Law Firm, we have helped many families with nursing home abuse cases in Greenville, SC, and we can help you explore your legal options.
Causes of Bedsores Among Nursing Home Residents
As people grow older, their skin thins out and becomes dry, which increases the risk of tears from friction. Other factors, such as disease-caused blood flow problems, also raise the risk.
Common causes of nursing home bedsores include:
- Pressure due to immobility: Residents with immobility issues require regular turning and repositioning, without which pressure ulcers can develop.
- Friction and shear: Failing to exercise care while moving residents with immobility issues can cause friction and shearing, increasing the risk of developing bedsores on irritated skin.
- Poor nutrition and hydration: Lack of good nutrition and hydration can compromise skin health and increase the risk of bedsores.
- Moist skin: If staff fail to change clothing and bedding for residents with incontinence issues regularly, the moisture can damage the skin and eventually cause bedsores to develop.
Stages and Complications of Bedsores
Bedsores start from an initial skin irritation and progress to deeper and serious ulcers as treatment delays. Here are the stages:
- Stage 1: The skin is intact but appears discolored and may be red and itchy.
- Stage 2: The top two layers of the skin (epidermis and dermis) are broken, and a painful blister may form.
- Stage 3: The sore progresses into the fatty tissue below the skin and has a crater-like appearance.
- Stage 4: The wound deepens and damages the muscle, tendons, and bone and may show signs of infection.
A bedsore may also be unstageable. In this case, it usually has discolored tissue around it, making it hard to tell the depth of the wound until after cleaning it.
What Can Our Nursing Home Bedsore Attorney Do?
If your loved one has sustained bedsores due to neglect, a nursing home bedsore attorney can help you explore your legal options, including pursuing compensation. Below are some of the ways we can help you:
Protect your rights
A claim of neglect reflects poorly on a facility. While bedsores are an obvious sign of neglect, the home might still want to fight back to protect its reputation. Working with our attorney ensures you have someone knowledgeable in the relevant laws and evidence gathering to protect your rights.
Prove liability
Evidence is essential in proving the facility’s liability to qualify for compensation. Our nursing home bedsore attorney can help you compile the necessary evidence to demonstrate the center’s negligence and support the damages sustained.
Provide legal guidance
Even with a valid case, there are things one might say or do to invalidate the claim. Our attorney understands the potential legal pitfalls. Dan Pruitt can provide you with the necessary guidance throughout the process to ensure you or your loved one does not admit to or take actions that might compromise the strength of your case.
Negotiate the claim
Insurance companies negotiate claims aggressively to protect their interests. You need someone who can match their negotiation skills on your side to fight for fair compensation. We have handled similar claims before and understand how to counter lowball settlements and negotiate for a fair payment.
File a lawsuit
In most cases, nursing home abuse claims settle before going to trial. However, if the insurer fails to give a fair settlement and the case facts merit trial, our nursing home bedsore attorney can file a lawsuit and represent you in the proceedings.
Contact Us Today and Let Us Help You Pursue Justice
If your loved one has sustained nursing home bedsores in Greenville and you want to pursue justice for the neglect, we welcome you to contact us at Dan Pruitt Injury Law Firm for a free case evaluation. Once you brief us on the details, we will advise you on the available legal options. If the claim merits compensation, we will commit to providing the best legal representation possible. Call us or schedule a consultation online by filling out our contact form.
FAQs About Bedsore Injuries
Are bedsores a sign of neglect?
Yes. Bed sores occur when the nursing home staff fails to observe standards of care while caring for residents. With attentive care, bedsores from issues, such as pressure due to immobility, friction and shear, poor nutrition and hydration, and incontinence, can be prevented.
Who is at risk of bedsores?
As people age, their skin becomes thin, dry, and highly susceptible to shear. Bedsores can develop in any neglected resident, especially those with issues of mobility, incontinence, blood circulation problems due to conditions such as diabetes, bed-ridden patients, and those unable to sense pain due to lack of sensory perception.