There Is Absolutely No Excuse For Bedsores In Nursing Home Care. Let Our Lexington Medical Negligence Attorneys Help.
Whether your loved one is in a nursing home or the local hospital, you trust medical professionals and support staff to take good care of him or her and be attentive to his or her needs. If you have discovered decubitus ulcers, known as bedsores, or other signs of neglect, an experienced attorney can help you explore your options.
At the law office of O’Brien Batten Kirtley & Coomer, PLLC, in Lexington, Kentucky, the attorneys have been helping people get justice for more than 100 years combined. They believe that bed sores should never occur and will aggressively protect the best interests of you and your loved ones.
Call us at 859-554-4727 today to schedule a free initial consultation with a skilled nursing home negligence attorney.
Why Bedsores Should Never Occur
Unlike many ailments, bedsores are usually 100 percent preventable. To prevent bedsores from occurring, all it takes is for hospital and nursing home workers to pay attention to their patients and to do their jobs. There is usually no excuse for bedsores, and Medicare won’t even reimburse hospitals for the treatment of bedsores that occur there because they should never happen.
While a bedsore doesn’t sound like the most terrible problem someone could have, these injuries can be horrific for seniors. While recovering from bedsores and neglect wounds, the medical bills can be tremendous.
You can trust our firm to examine the circumstances that led to your loved one’s bed sores, including looking into hospital or nursing home staffing, education and training issues.
Why Bedsores Can Be Signs Of Nursing Home Neglect
Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, develop when a person is left in one position for too long without proper care. Constant pressure reduces blood flow to the skin, causing damage that can quickly worsen. These injuries most often appear on the back, hips, heels and elbows areas that require routine monitoring and repositioning.
In a nursing home setting, preventing bedsores is part of basic care. Staff are expected to move residents, keep skin clean and dry, and respond to early warning signs.
When those steps are ignored, it reflects a breakdown in care that should not occur in any facility responsible for vulnerable individuals.
Signs Kentucky Families Should Watch For In A Loved One
Paying attention to small details can reveal serious problems early, including the following:
- Skin discoloration or dark patches: It may not look severe at first, but it signals that the skin is already under stress.
- Open sores or visible wounds: Once the skin breaks, the risk of infection increases. At this point, immediate medical attention is required.
- Complaints of pain or sensitivity: Discomfort is an early warning sign that pressure is not being relieved. It should never be ignored or dismissed.
- Unusual odors or drainage: This can indicate infection or tissue damage, a clear sign that the condition has progressed.
Our team holds these facilities accountable when they ignore these life-threatening warnings.
Why Bedsores Can Become Life-Threatening
Without proper treatment, these injuries can lead to serious complications, for instance:
- Infection spreading through the body: Bacteria can enter through open wounds and affect vital organs. This can quickly become a medical emergency.
- Sepsis and systemic illness: Once infection spreads, the body’s response can become dangerous. Older adults are especially at risk.
- Severe tissue damage: Advanced bedsores can destroy layers of skin and muscle. This often requires surgery and long-term care.
- Risk of death: In extreme cases, untreated bedsores can be fatal. What started as preventable neglect becomes life-threatening harm.
Our firm is driven to pursue justice for families whose trust has been shattered by such careless caregivers’ mistakes.
Why Choose O’Brien Batten Kirtley & Coomer, PLLC In Lexington?
Families across Kentucky turn to our firm because we do not back down from holding healthcare providers accountable. With more than 100 years of combined experience, we understand how to uncover what went wrong and build a strong case.
Our lawyers approach every case with urgency and purpose. We are trial-ready advocates who fearlessly take on the health care industry to help ensure preventable tragedies do not go unpunished. We focus on meaningful results that help families move forward.
Take Action If You Suspect Neglect
This should not have happened. To schedule a free initial consultation with a Louisville, Kentucky, personal injury attorney, contact us today.