The best way to avoid bedsores in a nursing home is for an elderly person to change positions frequently. Movement helps with blood flow. It ensures that pressure is not put on the exact same portion of their skin for too extensive a period of time.
That being said, people often need to move far more often than they realize. Some health experts recommend shifting positions every one to two hours if someone is in a bed.
In other words, even if nursing home staff helps an elderly person change positions every single day, it may not be enough to prevent bedsores. This can lead to serious injuries, especially if they get infected, and allegations may arise that the nursing home staff was negligent as a result of this development.
Every situation is unique
Another thing to remember is that every person in a nursing home has a unique situation and their own personal health history. One person may be more susceptible to bedsores than another. For instance, someone who is in a wheelchair may need to move more frequently than someone who is in a bed. A person who can perform simple tasks on their own, such as going to the bathroom, may naturally move more often than someone who cannot.
It is important for nursing home staff to carefully analyze everyone’s unique situation and to provide the type of support and care that they need accordingly. If this does not happen and it leads to serious injuries, such as the development of bedsores, family members will need to know what legal options they have to pursue compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering and more.
