Bedsores are debilitating, painful, and often avoidable injuries. Bedsores happen in nursing homes in Montana for various reasons, including a lack of proper care and attention to the individual needs of the patient.
Consider some of the most common causes of bedsores, also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers, from an experienced Butte nursing home abuse attorney.
Friction
Friction is the rubbing of the skin against another surface. If a person remains in a single position for long periods and then a nurse pulls them across the surface of a bed, it can create friction, damaging the skin’s outermost layers.
Pressure
Pressure occurs when a person remains in the same position for extended periods. It occurs when an object of greater pressure exerts force on the skin in a particular area. This causes the blood vessels and skin tissues to break down, creating wounds.
Shear
Shear is similar to friction but occurs when the two surfaces move in different directions. For example, the skin itself moves, whereas the bones and muscle tissue beneath remain in the same place. This creates ripping, damaging wounds.
Why These Injuries Happen
Nursing homes are hotspots for bedsores for several reasons. These injuries occur as a result of:
- A person remaining in the same position long-term, such as a result of being in a coma
- Paralysis, meaning a person cannot move themselves easily
- Injuries that require a person to remain in a wheelchair or bed for long periods with little movement
- Rough handling by care providers
- Sedation that keeps a person in a single position for too long
- Poor health that encourages skin breakdown and difficulty for the skin to heal properly, inferior nutritional intake and hydration
- Incontinence, which creates a moisture and bacteria-filled environment that increases friction between clothing and beds and the skin itself
- Disease that reduces the blood flow to various areas of the body, including vascular disease and diabetes
- An Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis that makes it harder for a person to know they need to move
In these situations, there is an increased risk of skin damage and injury. Once they occur, bedsores are difficult to treat and can spiral out of control, leading to serious pain, limited mobility, and early death.
Why Nursing Homes Are Prone to Bedsore Injuries
People in a nursing home are at a higher risk of bedsores for numerous reasons. Every year, about 2.5 million people develop pressure ulcers, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. However, it is widely believed that this is an underreported figure. Nursing home residents are at risk for numerous potential reasons, including:
- Limited ability to communicate needs
- Needing to rely on staff to help with movement and support to change positions
- Lack of staffing
- Poor quality care and abuses
- Lack of response time to initial signs of pressure sores that could lead to protection issues
- Poor hygiene practices
- Increased presence of disease and aging-related factors that limit mobility
Bedsores in Montana nursing homes may occur due to the facility’s failure to provide adequate treatment, mobility, nutrition, and support for residents. If you believe your loved one has bedsores resulting from poor care or negligence, contact a nursing home injury attorney for immediate support and guidance on getting your loved one care.