Nursing Home Neglect

Bedsore Claims: Pressure Ulcers Prove Neglect

Bedsores don't just appear—they develop over days of neglect. A Stage III or IV pressure ulcer is physical proof that your loved one wasn't receiving basic care. We hold facilities accountable.

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Key Takeaways

Bedsores are preventable: 95%+ can be avoided with proper repositioning every 2 hours
Staging matters: Stage III/IV ulcers reaching bone prove prolonged neglect
Can be fatal: Advanced bedsores cause sepsis, osteomyelitis, and death

What Are Bedsores?

Bedsores—also called pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers—are wounds that develop when prolonged pressure cuts off blood supply to the skin. They typically form over bony prominences: the tailbone (sacrum), heels, hips, elbows, and shoulder blades.

In nursing homes, bedsores develop in patients who can't reposition themselves and aren't turned regularly by staff. This is basic nursing care. When a facility fails to reposition patients every 2 hours (or as their care plan requires), they've failed at the most fundamental level.

36%

Sacrum (tailbone)

30%

Heels

15%

Hips

19%

Other areas

Pressure Ulcer Staging System

Bedsores are classified by severity. Higher stages mean more tissue destruction—and stronger evidence of prolonged neglect:

Stage I

Intact skin with non-blanchable redness. Skin may be painful, firm, or warmer/cooler than surrounding tissue.

Legal Significance: Early warning sign. If facility responds properly, can heal without injury. Failure to act at this stage is first evidence of neglect.

Stage II

Partial-thickness skin loss exposing dermis. May present as open blister or shallow crater. Pink/red wound bed.

Legal Significance: Develops from Stage I in 24-48 hours without intervention. Proves facility ignored warning signs.

Stage III

Full-thickness skin loss. Fat visible in ulcer. Muscle and bone NOT visible. May include slough (yellow tissue) or eschar (black tissue).

Legal Significance: Strong evidence of neglect. Takes days to weeks to develop. Requires extended failure to provide basic care.

Stage IV

Full-thickness tissue loss with exposed muscle, tendon, or bone. Slough or eschar may be present. Often requires surgical debridement.

Legal Significance: Definitive proof of severe neglect. May cause sepsis, osteomyelitis, amputation, or death. Near-certain liability.

Standard of Care: Prevention Protocol

Nursing homes are required to follow evidence-based prevention protocols. Failure to implement these measures is negligence:

Regular Repositioning

Turn immobile patients every 2 hours (or per care plan). Document each turn with time and position. This is the most basic prevention measure.

Skin Assessments

Daily skin checks identifying early warning signs. Document any redness, especially over bony prominences. Immediate intervention at Stage I.

Pressure-Relieving Surfaces

Use specialized mattresses and cushions for high-risk patients. Heel protectors, positioning devices, and low-air-loss beds.

Nutrition & Hydration

Adequate protein intake and hydration support skin integrity. Dietitian consultation for at-risk patients. Address weight loss immediately.

Proving a Bedsore Case

Bedsores themselves are evidence—but we build comprehensive cases that expose systemic negligence:

Medical Records Review

We obtain complete nursing notes, turning logs, and skin assessment documentation. Gaps in repositioning records prove neglect.

Wound Photographs

Photos of the pressure ulcer, with date stamps, document severity. We advise families to photograph wounds during visits.

Staffing Records

Understaffing makes proper turning impossible. If one CNA is responsible for 20 patients, they can't turn each patient every 2 hours.

Nursing Expert Testimony

Experienced nurses testify that the facility's care fell below accepted standards and that proper care would have prevented the ulcer.

Wound Care Specialist

If applicable, wound care nurses or surgeons testify about the severity of injury, treatment required, and permanence of scarring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bedsores (pressure ulcers) form when patients aren't repositioned regularly. Continuous pressure on the same skin area cuts off blood flow, causing tissue death. Nursing home patients who can't move themselves must be repositioned every 2 hours. When understaffed facilities skip this basic care, bedsores develop—often in days.

While some patients are at higher risk (malnutrition, diabetes, circulation problems), properly managed care prevents bedsores in almost all cases. Stage III and IV bedsores—where tissue dies down to muscle or bone—almost always indicate neglect. Even 'unavoidable' bedsores require documentation of preventive efforts, which neglectful facilities can't produce.

Yes. Advanced bedsores can lead to sepsis (blood poisoning), osteomyelitis (bone infection), cellulitis, and death. Open wounds also increase risk of MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant infections. We've handled wrongful death cases where nursing home patients died from bedsore-related infections that proper care would have prevented.

Damages include medical expenses (hospitalization, surgery, wound care), pain and suffering (bedsores are extremely painful), disfigurement (permanent scarring), and emotional distress. In wrongful death cases, families can recover funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and punitive damages if corporate greed caused the understaffing.

Bedsores Are Proof of Neglect

Your loved one's pressure ulcers didn't have to happen. We hold nursing homes accountable for the suffering caused by understaffing and corporate greed.

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