As our California bed sore attorneys are all too aware, bedsores are a common occurrence in many nursing homes, hospital and assisted living facilities. Bed sores (which are also known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers) can occur when a patient lies in bed for an extended period of time without any movement or mobility.

Understanding what conditions put an individual at high risk for developing bedsores is one way to prevent this potentially devastating condition from occurring. If a family member has one or more of the conditions listed below, they may be at an increased risk for the development of bedsores.  The best form of prevention, however, is daily monitoring. Unfortunately too many nursing homes fail to perform simple, daily checks to make sure that their patients are in good health. The result of this lack of care is that residents often develop bed sores that could have otherwise been easily prevented. If this is the case with someone you love, contact one of our San Diego pressure ulcer attorneys to share the circumstances of your case.

Below is a risk of factors our California decubitus ulcers attorneys have put together which indicate a higher risk for developing bedsores:

• Age: People 70 and over are at an increased risk for developing bedsores.  Because older adults tend to have thinner skin than younger adults, they are more susceptible to damage from minor pressure.  Also, individuals 70 and older are more likely to be underweight, which results in less natural cushioning over the bones.  Finally, poor nutrition is a serious problem among older adults.  Poor nutrition affects the integrity of the skin and blood vessels, and also hinders wounds from healing.  Even if an individual 70 or older received optimum nutrition and has over all good health, the body tends to heal more slowly.

• Being a Nursing Home Resident: Nursing home residents tend to have a higher rate of bedsores than do people who are hospitalized or cared for at home.  The reason is partly because nursing home residents may be especially frail.  However, rates are even higher for hospitalized patients who are immobilized, such as people who are recovering from hip surgery or who are in a coma. If improper care in a nursing home or hospital has resulted in a decubitus ulcer in someone you love, our San Diego bed sore attorneys can assist you in seeking compensation for negligence of your care takers. We have a wealth of experience in nursing home litigation, and have received successful verdicts for numerous bed sore cases in the past.

• Lack of Pain Perception: Loss of pain perception is usually due spinal cord injuries or diseases.  The inability to feel pain means that you may not be aware when you are uncomfortable or when you may need to change your position or know that a bedsore is forming.

• Diabetes: Because certain health problems such as diabetes and vascular disease affect circulation, parts of your body may not receive adequate blood flow, increasing the risk of tissue damage.

• Smoking: Smokers have a higher incidence of bedsores than nonsmokers do.  Smokers tend to develop more severe wounds and tend to heal more slowly.  This is because nicotine impairs circulation and reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood.  The risk increases with the number of years and cigarettes smoked.

Bedsores are a terrible condition that is often caused by a nursing home’s negligence to properly provide adequate care for their residents.  Because of the seriousness of such a condition, residents suffering from bedsores are often entitled to a legal remedy from a care facility that allowed for such a condition to develop.  At Berman & Riedel, LLP, our California pressure ulcer attorneys have the vast knowledge and experience necessary to develop and litigate a successful elder abuse and neglect case against a wrongful nursing home.

Contact a San Diego decubitus ulcer lawyer today at Berman & Riedel, LLP by calling (858) 350-8855.  Our staff will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have, and as always, initial consultations are free of charge.  For more information about Berman & Riedel, LLP’s nursing home litigation practice, please visit our main elder abuse and neglect website at www.preventelderabuse.com.