Finding a bedsore on a parent, spouse, or other loved one in a nursing home can be alarming.

 Are Bedsores a Sign of Nursing Home Neglect?

Finding a bedsore on a parent, spouse, or other loved one in a nursing home can be alarming.

Families often wonder whether the sore is simply a complication of age or illness — or whether it means their loved one is not receiving proper care.

The answer depends on the circumstances.

Bedsores can develop even when appropriate care is being provided, particularly in residents with serious medical conditions or limited mobility. However, nursing home bedsores can also be a warning sign of inadequate monitoring, poor hygiene, insufficient repositioning, malnutrition, dehydration, or other failures of care.

When a pressure injury becomes severe, repeatedly returns, or goes untreated, families have good reason to ask questions.

What Are Bedsores?

Bedsores are injuries to the skin and underlying tissue caused by prolonged pressure.

They are also commonly called:

• Pressure ulcers
• Pressure sores
• Decubitus ulcers
• Pressure injuries

They often develop over bony areas of the body, including the:

• Tailbone
• Hips
• Heels
• Ankles
• Elbows
• Shoulder blades
• Back of the head

Residents who spend significant amounts of time in a bed or wheelchair can be especially vulnerable.

Why Do Nursing Home Residents Develop Bedsores?

Many nursing home residents cannot easily reposition themselves.

A resident who is bedridden, recovering from surgery, living with paralysis, or experiencing serious mobility problems may depend almost entirely on caregivers for movement and skin care.

Risk factors may include:

• Limited mobility
• Incontinence
• Poor circulation
• Diabetes
• Dehydration
• Malnutrition
• Fragile skin
• Reduced sensation
• Serious illness

Because nursing homes care for residents with these risk factors every day, identifying residents at risk for pressure injuries should be an important part of their care.

Are Bedsores Always Evidence of Nursing Home Neglect?

No.

The presence of a bedsore by itself does not automatically prove negligence.

Some residents can develop pressure injuries despite appropriate medical care.

However, bedsores become particularly concerning when a facility fails to:

• Recognize that a resident is at risk
• Regularly reposition an immobile resident
• Monitor the resident's skin
• Keep the resident clean and dry
• Provide adequate nutrition
• Provide adequate hydration
• Treat an early-stage sore
• Follow wound-care instructions
• Notify physicians or family members about changes
• Respond when the wound becomes worse

The important question is often not simply “Did the resident develop a bedsore?”

It is:

“What did the nursing home do to prevent it, recognize it, and treat it?”

Pressure Ulcers in Nursing Homes Can Get Worse Quickly

A pressure injury may begin as an area of redness or discoloration.

Without proper intervention, it can progress into deeper tissue damage.

More serious pressure wounds can expose:

• Fat
• Muscle
• Tendons
• Bone

Severe wounds may become infected and lead to major health complications.

That is why early identification and treatment matter.

If staff members notice a developing pressure injury but fail to respond appropriately, an initially manageable problem may become much more serious.

Warning Signs Families Should Watch For

When visiting your loved one, pay attention to changes in their skin and overall condition.

Potential warning signs include:

• Red or discolored skin
• Open wounds
• Blisters
• Skin that feels unusually warm
• Swelling
• Drainage
• Foul odor
• Complaints of pain
• Bandages that are frequently soiled
• Wounds that continue to worsen
• Signs of infection

Families should also be concerned if staff members seem unwilling or unable to explain when the wound developed or what treatment is being provided.

Can Understaffing Contribute to Bedsores?

It can.

Preventing pressure injuries may require staff members to perform routine tasks throughout the day and night.

Residents may need assistance with:

• Repositioning
• Toileting
• Changing soiled clothing or bedding
• Eating
• Drinking
• Skin checks
• Wound care

When a nursing home does not have enough staff members to consistently provide necessary care, important tasks may be delayed or missed.

A resident who should be repositioned regularly may remain in the same position for too long.

A wet brief may not be changed promptly.

A developing wound may not be noticed.

These seemingly small failures can add up.

What Role Do Malnutrition and Dehydration Play?

Nutrition and hydration are important to skin health and wound healing.

A resident who is not receiving enough food, protein, vitamins, or fluids may have greater difficulty healing from a pressure injury.

Families should be especially concerned when bedsores appear alongside:

• Significant weight loss
• Weakness
• Dehydration
• Poor appetite
• Reduced alertness

Together, these conditions may suggest broader problems with the resident's care.

Bedsores and Infection

Untreated or poorly treated pressure wounds can become infected.

Possible signs of infection include:

• Increasing redness
• Swelling
• Warm skin
• Drainage
• Foul odor
• Fever
• Increasing pain

Serious infections can spread beyond the wound.

In vulnerable residents, infection may contribute to severe complications, including sepsis.

If a resident develops signs of infection, timely medical treatment is critical.

What Should Families Ask the Nursing Home?

If you discover a bedsore, do not be afraid to ask direct questions.

You may want to ask:

When was the wound first discovered?

What stage is the pressure injury?

Who is treating it?

Has a physician evaluated the resident?

How often is the resident being repositioned?

What wound-care plan is being followed?

Has the resident's care plan been updated?

Have nutrition and hydration been evaluated?

Has the wound become better or worse?

The answers — and the facility's willingness to provide them — can help you better understand the situation.

Document What You See

If you suspect neglect, keeping accurate information can be important.

Consider:

• Photographing the wound when appropriate
• Recording the date you first noticed it
• Writing down conversations with staff
• Keeping hospital and physician records
• Saving emails and facility correspondence
• Recording changes in your loved one's condition

Do not rely entirely on memory.

A simple written timeline can become very useful later.

When Might a Bed Sore Lawsuit in Georgia Be Considered?

A bed sore lawsuit in Georgia may be considered when evidence suggests that a nursing home or long-term care facility failed to provide reasonable care and that failure caused or worsened the resident's injury.

Potential issues may include:

• Failure to reposition
• Poor wound monitoring
• Failure to follow a care plan
• Inadequate hygiene
• Failure to provide nutrition or hydration
• Delayed treatment
• Inadequate staffing
• Failure to obtain appropriate medical care

Every situation is different.

The presence of a serious bedsore does not automatically establish legal liability, which is why the medical history and care records matter.

What Can a Nursing Home Neglect Attorney Investigate?

A nursing home neglect attorney may review evidence that is difficult for families to evaluate on their own.

That can include:

• Nursing notes
• Medical records
• Wound-care records
• Care plans
• Repositioning documentation
• Medication records
• Nutrition records
• Incident reports
• Staffing schedules
• Facility policies
• Hospital records
• Photographs
• Witness accounts

These records may help establish when the wound began, how quickly it progressed, and whether the facility took appropriate action.

When a Bedsore May Be Part of a Larger Pattern

Sometimes the bedsore is not the only problem.

Families may also notice:

• Repeated falls
• Poor hygiene
• Significant weight loss
• Dehydration
• Medication mistakes
• Unanswered call lights
• Dirty bedding
• Delayed medical care
• Unexplained injuries

When several warning signs occur together, they may point to a larger pattern of nursing home neglect.

Dayton Trial Law Helps Families Investigate Nursing Home Neglect

Families should be able to trust that vulnerable nursing home residents are receiving the care they need.

When a serious pressure injury develops, families deserve to understand why.

At Dayton Trial Law, we help families investigate suspected nursing home neglect and determine whether failures in care contributed to a resident's injuries.

If your loved one has developed a serious bedsore or pressure injury while living in a nursing home or long-term care facility, asking questions now may help protect them from further harm.

Learn more about how we handle these cases on our Sandy Springs Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer page.

Concerned about bedsores or other signs that your loved one may not be receiving proper care? Contact Dayton Trial Law for a confidential case evaluation.

Dayton Trial Law, LLC
6075 Barfield Rd., Suite 126
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
Office: (770) 202-HURT (4878)