Pressure sores, also known as bed sores and pressure ulcers, are all too common in Illinois nursing homes. The Centers for Disease Control’s “National Nursing Home Survey” found that 1 in 10 nursing home residents will suffer from pressure sores while under the care of a nursing home during their stay.
Pressure sores form in areas of the body where pressure is unrelieved for a short period of time, usually between 2-6 hours, and blood flow begins to be restricted. Pressure sores are almost always a sign of neglect. When nursing home staff fail to reposition residents often enough, wounds will develop over areas of bony prominence where fat and muscle is thinner or non-existent such as the heels, tailbone, elbows, knees, ankles, shoulder blades, ears, and back of the head. When pressure sores are left untreated, they can have serious complications that can lead to death.
Pressure Sore Risk Factors
The majority of nursing home residents who suffer from pressure sores will develop them within days to weeks of being admitted to a nursing home. While pressure sores are often the result of neglect, there are also certain risk factors that put a resident at increased risk for developing this condition. It is important that nursing home administration recognizes these risk factors and implements a plan-of-action for their prevention and treatment.
The pressure sore risk factors include:
- Diabetes;
- Smoking;
- Malnutrition and dehydration;
- Spinal cord injury;
- Vascular disease;
- Immunosuppression;
- Urinary incontinence;
- Dry skin;
- Low body mass or recent weight loss.
According to the CDC’s National Nursing Home Survey, the majority of the pressure sores seen in nursing homes were a Stage Two sore. Stage Two pressure sores will have a red, tender, blistered or crater-like appearance or may be a shallow open sore.
Treatment of pressure sores should begin immediately to prevent them from progressing and developing life-threatening complications.
Pressure Sore Complications
Pressure sores are not to be taken lightly. A pressure sore that progresses is due to lack of aggressive treatment and can cause serious complications, which include:
- Cellulitis;
- Sepsis;
- Necrotizing fasciitis;
- Gangrene;
- Bone infections;
- Amputation;
- Death.
The quality of life of a nursing home resident is often decreased from pressure sores if they should recover, though researchers estimate that nearly 60,000 deaths occur nationally as a result of pressure sores.
Pressure Sores are Costly
The treatment of pressure sores is costly to the national healthcare system. On average, the cost to treat Stage Two or higher stage pressure sores is no less than $21,000 per patient, with a national cost of $10 billion annually for their treatment. Medicaid estimates that this number will climb to over $15 billion as the population continues to age.
Pressure Sore Lawsuits
As pressure sores are almost always preventable, when they do occur, they are almost a sign that a nursing home resident did not receive proper care and that nursing home staff was negligent.
Pressure sore lawsuits are common, with over 17,000 lawsuits filed annually in the U.S. and a success rate for plaintiffs of approximately 85%. Of the publicly reported pressure sore settlements, the national average for recovery is $250,000 per case.
If you believe a loved one has been abused or neglected at a long-term care facility, contact America’s Consumer Lawyer, for a free consultation. We are a Chicago injury law firm representing individuals and families who have suffered an injury or loss due to an accident. America’s Consumer Lawyer, will handle your personal injury case quickly, will advise you every step of the way, and will not hesitate to go to trial for you.
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