You’ve made the gut-wrenching decision to put an elder, who cared for you, into an assisted living facility. You are overwhelmed with guilt and anguish. It was one of the hardest things you’ve ever had to do, but surely they’ll be in good hands. The decision was a loving one: You did it because you’re no longer capable of giving them what they need. The nursing home staff will care for them better than you can.
Sadly, too many elders don’t experience the comfort they deserve inside of a nursing home. As a nursing home lawyer Memphis TN has turned to for more than 30 years, I see it all the time.
Every year, approximately 150,000 seniors at nursing homes experience abuse or neglect — roughly 10%.
Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores or pressure sores, are a common form nursing home abuse or neglect. They form from prolonged pressure on skin, which damages the underlying tissue, often in bony areas. Aging, limited mobility, poor nutrition, and dehydration are all risk factors.
Like nursing home abuse more broadly, pressure ulcers occur more often than it may seem. According to recent studies, 1 in 10 nursing home residents will develop a bedsore throughout their time in a facility.
What should you do if a loved one develops a pressure ulcer?
First and foremost, all the people who care for your loved one, including doctors and nursing aides at the facility, should be aligned in the treatment approach. Ask which team members are responsible for caring for patients vulnerable to conditions like pressure ulcers.
Change the environment.
It’s important to catch a pressure ulcer quickly. Many different environmental factors can accelerate healing of the wound. The nursing home staff should coordinate to address those changes, including a new mattress, regular position changes, and continence management, among others.
Talk to a Nursing Home Lawyer Memphis TN Trusts
Nursing home abuse and neglect happens in my home city of Memphis far more often than you might realize. As a nursing home lawyer Memphis TN has trusted for decades, I’ve seen this prevalent and terrifying problem firsthand. It is particularly heartbreaking, because not all elder abuse is visible. It comes in many different forms. It is often difficult to prove, and many cases go unreported.
Our lawyers are known for our sensitivity and our results, and we will fight to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.
If you suspect your loved one has been neglected or abused in a nursing home or assisted living facility, call us at (901) 327-1212 or contact us here.