Understanding Pressure Ulcers in Elder Abuse and Neglect Cases
After falls, pressure ulcers/bedsores/wounds represent the highest number of injuries in lawsuits alleging elder abuse/neglect. A pressure ulcer is a skin wound and is generally caused by unrelieved pressure on a person’s bony prominences, such as the tailbone, hip, ankle, or knee. Pressure ulcers can be caused by constant pressure on one part of the skin, from chairs, wheelchairs, or beds.
The current consensus in the medical community is that most pressure ulcers are preventable, through proper nutrition, proper hygiene care, and turning and repositioning/routinely relieving pressure. There are, however, some instances where pressure injuries are unpreventable. This depends on the co-morbidities or other diagnoses a person is suffering from. The elderly are more susceptible to pressure ulcers due to their co-morbidities, including heightened fragility of the skin. Severe pressure ulcers may take a long time to heal. When dealing with a pressure ulcer case, it is important to have an integral understanding of pressure ulcers, including the four stages of pressure ulcers.
The Four Stages of Pressure Ulcers
Stage 1 Pressure Ulcer
A Stage 1 pressure ulcer is generally seen as a persistent area of skin redness; the skin has not yet broken open at this stage. While patients with darker skin tone may not turn red, the area will be a noticeably different color than the surrounding skin.
Stage 2 Pressure Ulcer
A Stage 2 pressure ulcer involves a partial loss of thickness of skin layers and can look like an abrasion, blister or a shallow crater in the skin – the skin has broken open at this stage.
Stage 3 Pressure Ulcer
A stage 3 pressure ulcer involves a full thickness of skin loss which exposes the subcutaneous tissues. This wound can look like a deep crater in the skin. While this stage pressure injury is significant, it does not yet show the muscle, tendon or bone.
Stage 4 Pressure Ulcer
A stage 4 pressure ulcer is a deep wound with full thickness loss of skin and subcutaneous tissue exposing the muscle, tendon and or bone. This stage pressure injury can lead to significant complications including infection of the bone or infection in the blood.
Preventable vs. Unpreventable Pressure Ulcers
Experienced elder abuse & neglect attorneys understand when pressure ulcers are preventable and when they are not which is critical when evaluating a lawsuit involving these injuries.
FAQs About Pressure Ulcers in Nursing Homes
What causes pressure ulcers in elderly nursing home residents?
Pressure ulcers are commonly caused by prolonged pressure on certain parts of the body, especially over bony areas such as the hips, tailbone, ankles, and knees. Limited mobility, poor hygiene, inadequate repositioning, malnutrition, and certain medical conditions can significantly increase the risk of developing bedsores in elderly residents.
Are pressure ulcers always preventable?
Most pressure ulcers are considered preventable when residents receive proper care, nutrition, hygiene, and regular repositioning. However, some severe medical conditions and co-morbidities may make certain pressure injuries unavoidable despite appropriate medical care. Each case requires careful medical and legal evaluation to determine preventability.
What are the dangers of Stage 4 pressure ulcers?
Stage 4 pressure ulcers are the most severe form of pressure injuries because they expose muscle, tendon, or bone. These wounds can lead to serious complications including deep infections, sepsis, bone infections, prolonged hospitalization, and life-threatening medical conditions, particularly in elderly or medically vulnerable individuals.
Can a nursing home be liable for pressure ulcers?
A nursing home may be held legally responsible if pressure ulcers develop due to neglect, inadequate staffing, poor supervision, failure to reposition residents, or lack of proper medical care. Facilities have a duty to take reasonable steps to prevent avoidable bedsores and protect residents from unnecessary harm.
Why are elderly residents more vulnerable to pressure ulcers?
Elderly residents are more susceptible to pressure ulcers because aging skin is thinner and more fragile. Many seniors also suffer from reduced mobility, circulation problems, chronic illnesses, and nutritional deficiencies that increase the likelihood of skin breakdown and slow the healing process after wounds develop.
Contact Hunter Law, PC Today
If your loved one suffered from preventable pressure ulcers, bedsores, or other signs of elder neglect in a nursing home or assisted living facility, it is important to seek legal guidance as soon as possible. Pressure ulcers are often a warning sign of inadequate supervision, poor hygiene care, understaffing, or neglect within a long-term care facility.
At Hunter Law, PC, attorney Stephen Hunter has extensive experience handling elder abuse and neglect claims involving nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, hospice providers, and home health agencies throughout California.
Our firm understands the medical and legal complexities involved in pressure ulcer and elder neglect litigation. We work closely with families to investigate the circumstances surrounding preventable injuries and pursue accountability against negligent facilities and caregivers.
Contact Hunter Law, PC today to schedule a confidential consultation and learn more about your legal options.
