If there’s one thing seniors need to avoid during their stay at a nursing home, it’s a case of bedsores. Unfortunately, this ailment is proving shockingly common in the Chicago area, and many observers are now calling for higher standards. In serious cases, bedsores can easily lead to fatalities among seniors. Make no mistake – bedsores are often avoidable. In fact, bedsores are a clear sign that seniors are being abused or neglected, as any nursing home worth their salt should be able to spot and address this medical condition before it gets out of hand. If your senior is dealing with this issue, you have every right to be concerned. You also have every right to take legal action against those responsible.
In order to explore your legal options, it’s best to get in touch with a qualified, experienced nursing home abuse attorney in Chicago. These legal professionals can guide you towards a positive outcome in the most confident, efficient manner possible. During your first consultation, you’ll have the chance to discuss the specific circumstances surrounding your situation. Your attorney will then provide you with personalized, targeted legal advice. In many cases, they advise plaintiffs to sue nursing homes for causing unnecessary neglect and abuse for the seniors in their care. This can result in a considerable financial settlement that you can use to cover your damages.
What Are Bedsores?
Also known as pressure sores, bedsores are ulcers that develop when areas of the skin are exposed to continuous pressure for long periods of time (1). When seniors lie in beds without moving for extended periods, bedsores can develop. Bedsores develop because blood supply is cut off from an area of the skin for longer than 2 to 3 hours. The worst-case scenario for a bedsore is when it gets deeper, developing into a serious gash and extending as far as the bone. It can be very difficult to heal from these sores, and infection can easily lead to fatalities.
Bedsores Responsible for “Thousands” of Deaths
According to a 2018 report published by NBC, sepsis infections such as bedsores have caused thousands of deaths throughout both the United States and Illinois (2). Investigations during this period found that approximately 25,000 nursing home residents had lost their lives after suffering from sepsis and related conditions. In Illinois alone, 6,000 nursing home residents were hospitatlized due to sepsis, and 20% of these individuals did not survive their treatment.
Many of these deaths have led to lawsuits. But because settlements are kept confidential, it is very difficult to understand the true extent of this problem in the United States. However, state inspectors found that a staggering 94% of all nursing homes in Illinois had been issued at least one citation for conditions that increase the risk of infection. These results were made public in 2015, and it is unclear what (if anything) has changed since then. NBC also reported in 2018 that staffing levels in nursing homes were among the lowest in the entire nation, with 78 percent of facilities being understaffed according to national averages. Remember, this was before Covid-19 – a pandemic that sent staffing levels even lower. 37% of nursing homes in the United States have also been cited for failing to properly address pressure sores.
Why Bedsore Should Never Happen
If medical standards were properly followed, bedsores would never have a chance to develop and fester. This is because normal medical procedures state that patients should be moved every two hours if they are immobile. Unfortunately, these standards aren’t adhered to in many nursing homes, and patients are left lying in their beds for long periods of time. This is why there’s really no excuse for bedsores to develop in nursing homes. In fact, if bedsores are occurring, there’s a good chance that your senior is suffering from other forms of neglect and abuse, since this issue highlights the fact that your senior is going long periods of time without being checked on.
Where Can I Find a Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Near Me?
If you’ve been searching the Chicago area for a qualified, experienced nursing home abuse attorney, look no further than Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. Over the years, we hav assisted numerous plaintiffs who have suffered legitimate injuries due to nursing home negligence. We also recognize that these injuries can be fatal. Book your consultation today, and we can help you strive towards justice and a fair settlement for everything your family has been forced to endure. Remember, bedsores may also indicate the presence of other forms of misconduct, so a further investigation may lead to other examples of negligence and abuse. Rest assured that we can help you hold these nursing homes accountable for everything they have done. Book your consultation today to learn more.
Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd.
(312) 384-1920
221 North LaSalle, Suite 1100
Chicago, IL 60601
Sources
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/bedsores#:~:text=Bedsores%20are%20ulcers%20that%20happen,problem%20among%20frail%20older%20adults.
- https://www.nbcnews.com/health/aging/avoidable-sepsis-infections-send-thousands-gruesome-deaths-n907111
