As residents in nursing homes get older, it is likely that they will have to spend an extended amount of time in bed or sitting down in some capacity. Reduced mobility can have many consequences in relation to a person’s health. Swollen ankles and blood clots become more likely, but also bed sores become much more frequent.
Bed sores are generally due to persistent pressure on certain parts of the body when a person has been lying or sitting in the same place for a long time. While in some instances, bed sores among older people can be unavoidable, in other instances, it could be a red flag in relation to possible nursing home neglect and abuse.
Why might bed sore in nursing home residents indicate neglect?
While some bed sores might be inevitable in those with reduced mobility, there is a great deal that can be done to reduce the severity of bed sores when care is taken. Therefore, if bed sores are at the more severe stages, it may indicate that nursing home carers are simply not doing enough to prevent pain in their residents. It may also suggest that patients are being kept in damp clothing or are subject to poor hygiene.
If bed sores are found around the ankles and feet, it may be an indication that the resident is being kept in the same footwear or not being removed from their wheelchair.
If you are concerned about a loved one in a nursing home and you fear that he or she is suffering from neglect, it is important to understand how the law works.