Nursing Home Negligence

Pressure sores, or bedsores, are one sign of nursing home neglect, abuse, or malpractice in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Read to learn more about bedsores and nursing home neglect.

How do bedsores happen?

Bedsores occur when there is unrelenting pressure applied to the skin, which can, in turn, cause additional problems like injuries or infections. They affect parts of the body where the bones and the skin are close together, like the back, hips, elbow, and ankles. Nursing home residents are at a higher risk than most because they are more likely to need a wheelchair or are bed-bound.

How should nursing homes protect residents and avoid neglecting them?

Those with limited mobility need to know that they should move every 15 minutes. If they are confined to a bed because of medical conditions, they need to move them at least every hour. The nurses should lay the nursing home residents at a 30-degree angle so that less pressure is placed on the more sensitive body parts. Mattresses built to reduce pressure on the body are helpful as well.

Nurses should inspect their skin every day to prevent bedsores. To avoid nursing home negligence charges, nurses should keep their skin dry and clean. If the resident has bandages, this needs to get changed daily as well. If the nurse sees damaged skin or other signs of infection, they should send you to the emergency room immediately.

On top of regular skin maintenance, nurses need to pay special attention to the nutrition that the residents are receiving, because poor nutrition can cause bedsores and other medical problems. The nutrition that elderly people need include: proteins, fats, vitamins, etc.

Nursing homes need to make sure that the residents have the opportunity to exercise and remain mobile. Exercise promotes blood flow, which lowers the likelihood of bedsores. Exercise also comes with additional benefits, such as a positive mental state and interactions with others.

Exercise, good food habits, skin inspections, and frequent turnings all help to prevent bedsores. If a nursing home cannot provide these things, they may be guilty of nursing home negligence.