Finding a bedsore on your parent’s, spouse’s or other loved one’s body can be anguishing. Bedsores are very painful and can lead to serious medical complications. The thought that someone you love has been helplessly left in agony due to possible neglect at the nursing home where they live is more than most of us can bear.
You might also be thinking about suing the facility for compensation on your family member’s behalf. But how do you know if you might have a case for compensation from the nursing home? Essentially, when it comes to bedsores, there are two questions you must answer.
Is there evidence that neglect or abuse caused the bedsore?
Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, develop when someone sits or lies in the same position for long periods of time. They often occur on the heels, ankles, hips or tailbone.
Disabled people with limited or no ability to reposition themselves while in bed or a wheelchair are especially vulnerable. Many nursing home residents develop one or more bedsores because staff were supposed to reposition them regularly but did not. However, not every bedsore results from clear-cut neglect or outright abuse. The more evidence you have that the nurses and other staff failed to care for your loved one’s health and comfort, the more likely your personal injury claim will succeed.
Did the bedsore lead to serious complications?
While bedsores are bad enough, their real threat comes from the health complications that can ensue. Left untreated for long enough, a pressure ulcer can easily become infected and can even lead to life-threatening sepsis. If your family member died of an infected bedsore or sepsis, or required intensive medical treatment to survive, it may be possible to link this medical catastrophe to negligence at their nursing home.