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If your loved one is a resident of a Phoenix nursing home or long-term care facility, and you see bedsores on his or her skin, possibly your loved one is suffering from neglect.
A Zanes Law bedsores and decubitus ulcer lawyer in Phoenix, AZ will investigate your loved one’s injuries, determine fault, prove liability, and see that your loved one is compensated. We will do everything from A to Z to see that justice is served.
Call us today at (866)-499-8989 for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
Understanding Bedsores & Decubitus Ulcer
According to Mayo Clinic, decubitus ulcers (bed sores or pressure sores) develop as the result of the following conditions:
- Consistent, excessive, and prolonged pressure on an area of the body, which limits blood flow to the skin, ultimately damaging underlying tissue
- Friction, which heightens the vulnerability of fragile skin
- Shear (movement in opposite directions, like when a body slides down in a bed that’s elevated at the head)
Dangers Associated with Bedsores, Pressure Sores, and Decubitus Ulcers
Besides being quite painful, bed sores can create other medical problems, including infection, gangrene, and sepsis. The condition can worsen to such an extent that it leads to death.
Other complications that can arise from bedsores include:
- Cancer, caused by long-term wounds that do not heal
- Reduced functioning of joints and limbs, due to bone and joint infections
Risk Factors for Bedsores, Pressure Sores, and Decubitus Ulcers
People suffer a greater risk of experiencing bedsores, pressure sores, and decubitus ulcers in the following situations:
- The individual is immobile. Whether due to health, age, or an injury, like a spinal cord injury, when the individual cannot move, there is a greater chance he or she will be exerting consistent bodyweight pressure on a specific area.
- The person suffers from a health condition that restricts blood flow, thereby increasing the potential for tissue damage.
- The individual is not properly hydrated or nourished. The lack of nutrients (like protein) and fluids that promote healthy skin makes it easier for tissues to break down.
- The person has a dulled sensory perception and so is not likely to change positions as often as he or she should.
Why Bedsores, Decubitus, and Pressure Sores Often Indicate Negligence
You can tackle the underlying causes of bedsores by merely taking care to keep pressure off a single area of the body for extended periods and by keeping skin in good condition.
According to Mayo Clinic, a caregiver can take the following reasonable steps to reduce the chances of resident developing bedsores:
- Reposition the resident once an hour
- Encourage wheelchair pushups
- Provide tilting wheelchairs that alleviate pressure
- Provide cushions and mattresses that that facilitate favorable body positioning
- Keep bed elevations of the head no greater than 30 degrees to prevent shearing
- Inspect skin daily to check for early signs of bedsores
- Protect the resident’s skin
- At points of friction, apply talcum powder
- For dry skin, apply lotion
- Do not allow the skin to remain wet (change clothing/bedding frequently)
- Maintain skin’s dryness and cleanliness
Nutrition also plays a crucial role in preventing bedsores. If a bed- or wheelchair-bound patient is not consuming enough proteins, vitamins, and minerals, this can weaken his or her skin’s and body’s ability to heal from bedsores, thereby making them worse.
All of the above preventive measures are steps your loved one’s nursing care facility can and should be taking to keep your loved one free from bedsores and decubitus.
Establishing Negligence in Your Loved One’s Case of Bedsores
Nursing homes owe their residents a duty of care to keep them from harm, including from the pain and dangers of bedsores and decubitus ulcers.
When this does not happen, the nursing home facility and possibly members of its staff have failed to fulfill their duty of care. If this negligence leads to your loved one developing bedsores or pressure sores, and your loved one suffers damages as a result, then the facility and possibly other individual medical practitioners or nursing home staff are liable for the damages incurred by these injuries. Our bedsores & decubitus ulcer lawyers in Phoenix, AZ can and will help you with your case.
The Feds Are on Your Side
The federal government takes this type of care seriously. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires that any resident who arrives at a facility without bedsores not develop them while in the facility’s care unless the resident’s condition makes this development inevitable.
Zanes Law Will Handle Your Bedsores and Decubitus Case from A to Z
Zanes Law’s legal team is eager to help you determine who is at fault and liable for your loved one’s bedsores and decubitus.
It’s just one of the many “A to Z” missions we shall accomplish to see that justice prevails in your case of nursing home abuse and neglect.
Our whole suite of services includes:
- Identifying who is at fault and liable for damages
- Calculating your damages
- Communicating with insurers, lawyers, judges, and juries
- Keeping you updated about the status of your case
If your loved one passed away due to complications arising from his or her bedsores and decubitus ulcers, you can pursue a wrongful death action against the nursing home or other at-fault parties. We will help you pursue this legal action.
We Will Gather all the Evidence We Need to Support Our Claim of Neglect
Our injury lawyers will collect evidence of every type to support our argument that a member of the nursing home staff—or the nursing home facility itself—has been negligent in caring for your loved one, resulting in his or her bedsores and decubitus.
Some types of evidence we will gather include:
- Medical records
- Facility records
- Staff records
- Photos and video
- Eyewitness accounts
- Expert opinions
Types of Damages in Your Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Case
Some examples of damages you might recover via a settlement or verdict include:
- Medical treatment and medications
- Diminished quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Relocation costs
- Emotional trauma
- Doctors’ and surgeons’ fees
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
- Medical tests and imaging
See How a Phoenix Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Will Help You
The bedsores and decubitus ulcer lawyers in Phoenix, AZ from Zanes Law want to help you resolve your loved one’s pain and see that the negligent parties who caused it pay for their actions. We will do everything from A to Z to make this happen
Call our firm today at (866)-499-8989 for a no-charge, no-obligation consultation.
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