Giroux & Associates: The Legal Team You Can Trust to Hold Nursing Homes Accountable for Pressure Sores and Neglect
Pressure sores, also called decubitus ulcers, commonly develop in elderly individuals who have limited or no mobility. Pressure sores can be as relatively benign as a small bruise on the skin or be as critical as a deep hole in the skin that goes all the way to the bone. In some cases, pressure sores are unavoidable, but in all too many cases, a nursing home neglect lawyer will suggest they are a sign of neglect.
The Duty of the Nursing Home
It is the obligation of a nursing home to assess each individual when he or she enters the facility to understand the full nature of his or her condition and implement a proper plan for care based on individual needs. Accordingly, the facility must:
- Ensure a person who enters the facility without pressure sores does not develop them unless it is demonstrated that the person’s clinically described condition makes it virtually unavoidable
- Ensure that a person who develops pressure sores receives the necessary treatment to heal, prevent infection and prevent the development of new sores
Causation
Sadly, an experienced nursing home neglect lawyer knows all too well that many nursing homes are woefully understaffed, and the existing staff in many cases is undertrained. Residents of nursing homes who are confined to their beds for long periods of time each day make up a considerable percentage of the population of many facilities, and they require special care. They must be turned multiple times during the day in order to maintain proper circulation and protect their skin. For those with existing pressure sores at advanced stages, the danger of infection is high. Neglecting the open sores is a significant danger.
Contact Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers for Legal Advice
If your loved one is a resident of a nursing home, it is your responsibility to be their advocate. Visit often, be vigilant and if you have any reason to suspect less than proper care, call Giroux & Associates, nursing home neglect lawyers, at (727) 895-5399.