When you first notice a bedsore on your loved one, you may not think it is a big deal at first. This is especially true of small and mild bedsores, which often simply look like little blisters or abrasions.
In reality, though, these small wounds might indicate a much larger problem: the possibility of neglect.
What is a bedsore?
Johns Hopkins Medicine examines bed sores, their causes and what may prompt them to appear in a nursing home. The primary cause for bed sores is the prolonged application of pressure to various parts of the body. The most common recipients of this pressure are the joints, though it is also common for bed sores to appear on the back, tailbone and heels, especially in patients who cannot easily get out of bed.
How does it point to neglect?
How does this tie to neglect? Simply put, if your loved one has trouble moving, then the staff at the nursing home should either be around to help them get where they need to go or should frequently visit the room to turn them over while they rest in bed.
Bedsores can form in as little as several hours. This means that if you notice bed sores on your loved one, it is possible they were left in one position for hours at a time before anyone noticed or moved them. Staff may have done this due to the recent enormous problem of understaffed facilities with too many patients.
This is no excuse for the mistreatment of your loved one, though. You may want to pursue your potential legal options if you believe that the nursing home might have neglected your loved one, leading to their bed sores.