Bed Sore FAQ: Bed Sores & Nursing Homes

Current Category: Bed Sores In Nursing Homes

Are bed sores acquired during a nursing home admission an indication of poor care?

Without much objection, bed sores have become an accepted way of life at some nursing homes. Today, patients, families and caregivers at some nursing homes view the development of bed sores as an inevitable part of the aging process.
To the contrary, the majority of circumstances when a patient develops …

Can young people develop bed sores during an admission to a medical facility?

Absolutely. Bed sores are not a condition isolated to the elderly. In many circumstances, younger patients in nursing homes and hospitals… face many of the same risk factors that their contemporaries encounter: remaining in one position for extended periods of time, being kept in soiled linens for extended periods and

Sometimes Bed Sores In A Nursing Home Patient Aren’t Discovered Until They Are Taken To A Hospital

Some of my angriest clients contact me after a loved one was transferred from a nursing home to another nursing home or hospital only to learn of serious medical problems their loved one likely acquired during their original admission.
Of course, breaking disappointing news is difficult for anyone to do.…

Bed Sores Continue To Plague Patients In Chicago Nursing Homes & Hospitals

Even in large metropolitan areas like Chicago, IL patients in nursing homes, hospitals and other types of senior living facilities… continue to suffer from a medical complication that has been around as long as history books have been written— bed sores.
While some facilities suggest that the development of

Pressure Relieving Devices May Help Reduce Rate Of Pressure Sores In Nursing Home & Hospital Patients

As a lawyer who sees a significant number of cases where nursing home or hospital patients have developed bed sores… (also referred to as: pressure sores, pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers) during a short or long-term admission, I feel as though the most progress has been made with respect to

Without A Prevention Plan, All Nursing Home & Hospital Patients Remain At Risk For Developing Pressure Ulcers

Pressure ulcers are indeed preventable in the overwhelming majority of circumstances. The key is to identify patients who are at risk quickly after their admission to a medical facility and timely– and effectively implement preventative measures such as regular pressure relief and ensuring patients remain clean and dry.
Medicare has…

Tips for Ensuring Your Parent’s Proper Care & Prevent Complications Like Pressure Sores

If you’re an adult child of an elderly parent, you may already know that choosing a proper nursing home can be stressful. Carolyn L. Rosenblatt, nurse and author of the blog AgingParents.com…, shares some tips on how to ensure your parent will always remain safe and healthy:
- Get to know the difference between “convalescent

Family Of Disabled Man File Lawsuit Against Chicago Nursing Home After He Develops Pressure Sores During Admission

The family of a man with a spina bifida has filed a lawsuit against Tower Hill Healthcare Center, alleging the facilities neglect resulted in the man’s physical injury and deterioration since he was admitted to the facility.
According to the lawsuit, the man was admitted to Sherman Hospital (a Chicagoland…

Bed Sores Continue To Plague Nursing Home & Hospital Patients In All Demographics

Although the news regarding the horrific physical and emotional impact of bed sores (also called decubitus ulcers, pressures sores or pressure ulcers…) surely is on all respectable medical professionals radar screens, bed sores in nursing homes and hospitals continue to plague individuals in all demographics. In order to improve

What are some common defenses used by nursing homes and hospitals in lawsuits involving pressure sores?

While most pressure sore cases may appear to be the result of negligence and complete disregard for the medical needs of a patient— and any resulting claim would want to speedily resolved by the facility. The fact remains that many cases involving the development of a pressure sore (similarly referred…

Is $28 Million In Punitive Damages Enough To Punish A Nursing Home That Allowed Patient To Develop Infected Pressure Sores?

Well according to a California jury, the answer is ‘yes’. $28 million is the amount of punitive damages the jury awarded in the elder abuse and wrongful death case (Sacramento Superior Court) against Colonial Healthcare of Auburn and its parent company Horizon West… of Rocklin.
This case

Why is it important to differentiate the type of facility where a bed sore developed?

The first step in evaluating a bed sore case, is to determine when at what type of facility the bed sore developed. Aside from obviously knowing which facility to pursue a claim or lawsuit against, knowing how the facility is legally categorized is essential to a successful recovery.
The legal…

Are the development of bed sores at a nursing home considered to be a form of nursing home abuse?

The Administration on Aging, defines elder abuse as the intentional, or negligent act by a caregiver or any other person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to a vulnerable adult.…
Obviously, using the the government’s definition, many forms of mistreatment- intentional and negligent may be considered

Are the development of bed sores during a nursing home admission an indication of nursing home neglect?

…Caring for nursing home patients is hard work! Caregivers must be dedicated to invest the necessary time and effort to assure the medical, personal and psychological needs of their patients are met. When caregivers fail to provide necessary care, patients begins to suffer. Compared with an affirmative act (such as

What should I do if my family member develops bed sores during an admission to a nursing home?

The first thing that should be done is to see to it that your loved one gets the medical care they require and is seen by medical professionals who concentrate in treating individuals with bed sores.
After medical care is obtained, getting in contact the your state’s department of health…

Are there any federal regulations that apply to the prevention of bed sores?

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA) set forth regulations for nursing homes to comply with in exchange for their receipt of Medicare funding. The regulations are extensive and cover most aspects of patient care. These regulations are known as ‘F-Tags’ which collectively form the standard of care for…

What are nursing homes required to do to prevent bed sores?

Federal law requires that nursing homes have bed sore prevention program. The first part of a nursing home’s bed sore prevention program is a skin care assessment. A skin care assessment must be completed for new nursing home residents within 14 days of admission to the facility which is done…

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Information and medical contact resources for bed sore education and treatment.

Bed Sore Glossary - definitions of common bed sore terms and phrases.
Bed Sore Treatment Specialists - national compilation of wound care specialists, state-by-state, treating bedsores.
Bed Sore Articles - articles and links to blog posts about bed sores.
Bed Sore Research Studies - links to recent studies on prevention and treatment.
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Frequently asked questions on bed sore prevention, treatment and legal rights of those who have been neglected.