There are a number of factors that contribute to the development of pressure ulcers, but the majority of individuals who suffer from bedsores have difficulty moving. For that reason, bedsore injuries are common in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Elderly residents often remain in the same position for long periods of time, extending the impact of pressure in bony areas. However, immobility is not the only factor that can be a predictor of pressure ulcers.

Factors That Contribute To Bedsore Injuries:

Elderly people confined to a bed or wheelchair have a high risk of developing bedsore injuries.
Image: Weebly

• Immobility: The inability to move the body without assistance is the leading predictor of pressure ulcers. Patients with spinal/brain injuries or neuromuscular diseases are particularly vulnerable, but any individual who is bedridden or remains in a wheelchair without frequent repositioning can be affected.
• Age: The risk of bedsores increases as a person gets older. Elderly individuals have reduced blood flow and diminished body fat, which makes their skin more fragile and sensitive to the impact of pressure.
• Malnourishment: A well-rounded diet is essential for the skin and tissue to stay healthy. Proper hydration and nutrition will allow the skin to repair and replenish its cells. If an individual isn’t consuming enough nutrients, their body will be unable to heal.
• Chronic physical conditions: Individuals who suffer from diabetes or artery diseases are also vulnerable. These conditions hinder the body’s ability to receive vitamins from food and oxygen from blood.
• Mental incapacitation: Brain conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, can limit a patient’s ability to ask for help. Some individuals may be unable to seek proper treatment when a bedsore has developed.
• Incontinence: Urinary and bowel incontinence, or the inability to control urine or waste, can leave moisture and bacteria on the skin. Moisture, when coupled with pressure and friction, can cause irritation that leads to skin breakdown.

Nursing homes, caretakers and family members can evaluate each person’s pressure ulcer risk by using the Norton or Braden scales. But despite the multitude of resources, thousands of people are suffering from bedsores. If you’re a caregiver or the family member of a senior with long-term health or mobility issues, buying a hospital bed can be a fantastic way to significantly improve the comfort and safety of your patient or loved one, find out more on SonderCare’s website.

If you or a loved one lived in a nursing home and developed pressure ulcers as a result of neglect or abuse, you may be entitled to compensation.

Request a free case evaluation to learn more today.

The post What Factors Increase The Risk Of Pressure Ulcers? appeared first on Citizens Report.

Susan Pedro, a former patient of Oceanside Hawaii Assisted Living, reportedly passed away from sepsis and kidney failure. In the lawsuit, the family claims that untreated bedsores caused the deadly infection.

Complaints of Negligence

Pressure sores can be avoided if residents are consistently cleaned and repositioned.
Image: The Guardian

The lawsuit alleges that Susan developed pressure sores because she was left in a wheelchair for hours without assistance. The infections developed because the staff let her sit in her own waste, according to the court documents.

“The doctor said it was preventable, that if they would have gotten her up, if they would have moved her around, if they would have helped her change her diaper on a regular basis, if they would have given her a bath, I mean, these things could have been prevented, and they weren’t,” Matthew Pedro, Susan’s son, told Hawaii News Now.

Denis Bryant, an owner of Oceanside Hawaii, told the news organization that their care is “fine,” and that families may be setting their expectations too high.

However, according to Hawaii News Now, this wasn’t the only time a resident had left the assisted living facility. Another family moved their mother out of the nursing home in Dec. 2016, due to “short staffing, unclean rooms and lack of care.”

The Hawaii Department of Health conducted a safety inspection in Jan. 2015, reporting dirty floors, the smell of urine, unsecured windows and insufficient employee training.

Susan Pedro, who died a month after her family moved her to Wahiawa General Hospital, is one of many individuals who experienced abuse or neglect in a nursing home.

Individuals and family members injured by neglect or abuse in nursing homes might be entitled to compensation. Request a free case evaluation to learn more about assistance today.

The post Hawaii Nursing Home Sued For Mother’s Preventable Death appeared first on Citizens Report.