Guide to Bedsores in Nursing Homes

Bedsores are known by various names. Some of them include pressure sores, pressure injuries, pressure ulcers, and decubitus ulcers.

While these injuries may initially appear overly concerning, they are. If left untreated, they can result in serious infections, and it’s not unheard of for them to claim someone’s life.

Ensuring your loved one doesn’t suffer irreparable harm to their health or die from a bedsore at an assisted living facility takes you becoming educated about these types of injuries. Continue reading our guide to bedsores in nursing homes below for further information about what causes these ulcers to emerge, who’s most vulnerable to suffering these injuries, and other details about them.

Know that bedsores may be a sign that your nursing home resident loved one has been neglected by staff. So, know that most state laws see the emergence of these as violating resident rights, thus allowing them to pursue a personal injury claim to recover compensation if they’re hurt.

How Pressure Ulcers Occur

Bedsores are usually caused by caregiver neglect or abuse. There are several factors that can cause bedsores. The quick explanation is that they are caused by the interruption of blood flow to the skin, which can be due to:

• Constant pressure on the skin from lying or sitting in the same position for too long, destroying skin tissue
• Moist skin rubbing against clothing or bedding, creating friction and damaging the skin
• Two surfaces moving in the opposite direction, known as shear, such as a resident sliding down on an elevated bed

These injuries usually present themselves on areas of the body that don’t have much fat or muscle, such as the tailbone, shoulder blades, or the backs of arms and legs.

Understanding the Severity of Bedsores

Much like any other injury, pressure injuries have stages of severity and are ranked from stage 1, as the least severe, to stage 4, the most serious. Here is a quick rundown of the four stages:

• Stage 1: Some redness on the skin that heals within a few days
• Stage 2: Blistering or abrasions that usually heal within six weeks
• Stage 3: Visible loss of tissue that may take over six months to fully heal
• Stage 4: Damage occurs to the bone, muscles, and joints, often leading to amputation and sometimes deadly infection

Any stage of these injuries can quickly become a dangerous situation for an elderly nursing home resident and should be taken care of as quickly as possible to prevent more severe health issues.

What Can Be Done To Treat Pressure Injuries?

The bedsores that nursing home residents develop usually heal over time provided that medical intervention occurs quickly. The treatments for pressure ulcers that are available include:

• Relieving the pressure
• Removing dead tissue
• Keeping the wounds clean
• Using medication such as antibiotics

Finding and caring for bedsores by stages 1 or 2 is important to the overall health of the individual. The longer decubitus ulcers go untreated, the higher the risk for severe health issues and even death in some cases.

How Bedsores Can Be Prevented

Understanding bedsore prevention is the key to ensuring your immobile loved one remains healthy in their nursing home. The easiest way to reduce the risk of bedsores occurring is by:

• Making sure your loved one is moved or repositioned every few hours
• Checking your loved one’s skin regularly
• Making sure severely immobile residents participate in physical therapy

These are just a few precautions we can take to prevent our loved ones from developing bedsores in nursing homes, which are often life-threatening injuries. Visiting your loved one in their nursing home as frequently as you can is always an important preventative measure, as you will be more likely to notice any health changes.

Who Is Most at Risk for a Pressure Sore?

Bedsores usually develop more frequently in nursing home residents who are in wheelchairs or are bedridden. When an individual is immobile and relies on others to assist them in daily tasks, such as changing their position in a chair or on a bed, it raises the chances that bedsores may occur.

Long-term care facilities are notoriously understaffed, and the caregivers who work at these facilities care for many patients at a time. It’s an unfortunate reality that not all patients are treated equally, especially those who have more extensive needs, such as being unable to move or care for themselves.

These residents are more likely to be looked over and ignored, either on purpose or accidentally, which often leads to injuries such as bedsores.

When Neglect Results in Bedsores in Nursing Homes

Unfortunately, neglect can occur in some nursing home environments. When a resident is not under proper care, that can result in bedsores. These neglectful practices could lead to this potentially deadly skin issue:

Inadequate Repositioning

Some residents lack the physical strength to move. Whether they are bedridden or confined to wheelchairs, they require regular repositioning to alleviate pressure on vulnerable areas of the body. When staff members do not assist them, this can result in tissue damage and the formation of bedsores.

Poor Hygiene

Another form of neglect is poor hygiene, which is also a factor in developing bedsores. Regular bathing, changing soiled clothing, and managing incontinence can help to keep bacteria off the skin. If the staff fails to maintain proper hygiene standards for their residents, that can lead to an environment where moisture and bacteria will develop. In turn, the skin can become more prone to bedsores.

Lack of Monitoring

When you place a loved one in a nursing home, you expect them to be monitored for signs of health concerns. However, if the facility employs poorly trained staff members, they may not consistently check residents’ skin conditions or address early signs of pressure-related damage. As a result, a minor skin issue could escalate into severe bed sores.

Improper Nutrition

Some neglected residents may suffer from malnutrition and dehydration. Everyone needs the proper nutrition and hydration for healthy skin, especially older residents. When a person is not receiving enough water or nutrients, the skin’s ability to withstand pressure and heal can weaken, increasing the risk of bedsores.

If your loved one is largely immobile and residing in an assisted care facility, it’s important to maintain awareness of their health. They often can’t speak up for themselves, or if they do, they may be ignored.

We are their biggest advocates when it comes to their health and well-being. If you see any signs of bedsores in nursing homes or are concerned about your loved one’s health, speak up and make sure your loved one is being properly cared for. In some cases, making a report of nursing home abuse may be necessary.