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Bedsores are often a sign of nursing home neglect

On Behalf of | Jun 5, 2015 | Uncategorized |

Nursing home neglect often leads to bedsores for patients who are bedridden. It is extremely important for a patient to get up and move around whenever possible. If that is not possible it is the responsibility of the health care provider to make sure the patient does not develop bedsores. The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project has reported that the number of bedsores reported in nursing homes has increased by 63 percent in the last decade even though the number of hospitalizations has not increased proportionately.

Bedsores have been considered an obvious sign of patient neglect since the time of Florence Nightingale. Although bedsores generally do not cause death, they signal an overall decline in health status and are therefore associated with an increased risk of mortality. Sadly, elderly nursing-home residents are often susceptible to bedsores as well as other symptoms of nursing home neglect.

Family members who visit loved ones in nursing homes should pay close attention to bedsores on the patient in order to determine if that patient is being cared for properly. In the event of such signs of nursing home abuse or neglect, family members may wish to initiate a lawsuit with the help of their lawyer.

Looking at the seriousness of the situation, authorities have established various guidelines to help nursing homes, caregivers and nurses prevent bedsores. Following the guidelines established by the U.S Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality can contribute positively to the patient’s well-being and overall health development and it may also help reduce the increased mortality associated with bedsores.

Source: NLM.NIH.gov, “Chapter 12: Pressure ulcers: A patient safety issue,” Accessed on May 28, 2015

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