Stage 4 bedsores are almost always a sign of neglect when they occur in a nursing facility. If you discover your loved one has developed these severe injuries, it may be time to seek support from a Butte nursing home abuse lawyer with Everett Cook Law.
Bedsores in Butte Nursing Homes
Bedsores are the result of the restriction of blood flow to areas of the skin due to pressure. These often happen on areas of the body such as the:
- Buttocks
- Backs of the arms and legs
- The back or sides of the head
- Hips
Less severe bedsores can develop relatively quickly, within hours or days, and these can often be treated by changing position to remove pressure. However, if the facility is negligent in its care and attention to residents and caregivers fail to identify the problem early on, a minor bedsore can turn into a significant health concern and open wound.
What Differentiates Stage 4 from Other Bedsores?
The National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel defines stage four pressure injuries as the most severe form. Unlike the less severe stages 1-3, a stage 4 bedsore presents with full-thickness tissue damage, where you are able to see muscle, tendons, cartilage, or even bone. The depth depends on the location on the body, but areas with more fat can often worsen more quickly.
Risk Factors for Bed Sores in Butte Nursing Homes
You do not need to have an underlying condition to develop bedsores. However, some complicating conditions and factors may make you more vulnerable not only to developing pressure sores, but their faster progression and longer healing time. Some of these include:
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Circulatory issues
- Obesity
- Mobility issues
Additionally, skin condition can play a role in how easily it succumbs to pressure, making older people more vulnerable to these types of injuries. However, anyone who faces mobility challenges or does not frequently adjust positions throughout the day is at risk
Treating Butte Bedsores
Like Stage 3 injuries, Stage 4 bedsores require extensive treatment. The treatment plan often includes:
- Wound care
- Debridement
- Antibiotics
- Skin grafts
- Muscle flap surgery
In addition to medical intervention, caregivers should ensure that bandages and dressings are changed appropriately and that the resident is positioned in such a way as to avoid pressure on the area.
You Have Options if You Or a Loved One Developed Stage 4 Bedsores in a Nursing Home
Though exceptions always exist, if a nursing home resident develops a Stage 4 bedsore, it is likely the result of significant and prolonged neglect. Whether that is that the facility failed to appropriately adjust and move the resident, or a stage 2 bedsore developed quickly, and the facility failed to provide the necessary medical treatment and intervention
Wounds like this can result in life-threatening infections, and the matter should be taken very seriously. If you have any concerns about nursing home abuse or neglect, you can report them to the Montana Adult Protective Services(APS), which can perform its own investigation.