When a Kentucky family makes the painful decision either to put a loved one in a nursing home or, at least, strongly suggest that the loved one make that decision, they do so trusting that the facility which they choose will do their utmost to take care of their new patient and make sure they are comfortable and well-provided for in what is often the last months or years of their life.
Sadly, any nursing homes in Kentucky, either through outright disregard for the well-being of their patients or simply because they are too busy to handle their patient load, do not meet their obligations and allow preventable ailments to cause sometimes serious and permanent harm to the people the home is supposed to be protecting.
Take, for example, the case of bedsores. Bedsores, also called pressure ulcers, are sometimes severe, painful areas of redness and swelling that appear on one’s skin. If they get infected, they can lead to a fatal or very hard to treat condition such as sepsis.
While it is true that older people are more prone to bedsores, many of the risk factors for these injuries are preventable with a little bit of care. For instance, people who cannot get up from bed on their own can be moved frequently in order to alleviate the pressure that causes these sores. Likewise, poor nutrition or dehydration are risk factors, but no one in a nursing home should have inadequate food or water.
When bedsores appear on a loved one, Kentucky residents should take immediate notice, as they could easily suggest nursing home negligence. Particularly if the resulting injuries or illnesses are serious, the family may also consider filing a lawsuit in order to pursue compensation for the nursing home’s negligence.