Los Angeles County Nursing Home Heel Wound Lawyers

In Los Angeles County, families rely on nursing homes to protect elderly residents from preventable harm. Yet one of the most troubling injuries we continue to see in these facilities is the development of heel wounds. These pressure injuries are painful, debilitating, and often life-threatening if left untreated. Worse, they are almost always preventable when caregivers follow basic standards of care.

How Heel Wounds Develop

Heel wounds form when pressure restricts circulation to the heel for extended periods of time. Residents who are confined to wheelchairs or spend long stretches in bed are at the highest risk. Without heel protectors, cushions, or frequent repositioning, the skin begins to deteriorate. What starts as redness can turn into an open sore, which may then become infected. In severe cases, untreated heel wounds lead to gangrene and require amputation.

These injuries are especially concerning because they signal prolonged inattention. Caregivers should be checking residents’ feet regularly, particularly during bathing or dressing. Unfortunately, many staff members rush through routines, leaving socks on and failing to examine the skin. By the time a wound is discovered, it may already have progressed to an advanced stage.

What Nursing Homes Should Be Doing

Preventing heel wounds is not complicated, but it does require vigilance. Facilities in Los Angeles County are expected to:

• Reposition residents every two hours to reduce pressure.
• Use heel risers, protectors, or special mattresses for at-risk residents.
• Ensure nutrition and hydration support healthy skin.
• Remove socks and shoes during bathing and grooming to check for early warning signs.
• Provide immediate treatment for redness or breakdown before an ulcer develops.

When these steps are ignored, heel wounds are not just unfortunate—they are evidence of neglect.

Examples of Custodial Neglect in Los Angeles

Heel wounds often develop because of systemic failures inside nursing homes. Some of the most common examples of neglect include:

• Leaving residents immobile in wheelchairs or beds for entire shifts.
• Rushing through hygiene care without removing socks.
• Failing to document or report changes in skin condition.
• Ignoring small wounds until they progress to infections.
• Not providing ordered wound care or follow-up treatment.
• Understaffing that forces caregivers to cut corners with residents’ care.

Each of these failures represents a breakdown in the facility’s duty to protect residents from preventable harm.

Why Families Should Seek Legal Help

When a loved one develops a heel wound, families are often told it is “unavoidable.” In reality, most heel wounds result directly from poor care practices. A skilled Los Angeles nursing home heel wound lawyer can investigate facility records, review medical documentation, and work with experts to prove that neglect caused the injury.

For more than 20 years, Nursing Home Law Group has represented families in Los Angeles County and throughout California in cases involving elder neglect and abuse, including many, many cases involving wounds and decubitus ulcers, including those on the heels. Our attorneys know how to hold facilities accountable when heel wounds result in hospitalization, amputation, or even death.

Call Nursing Home Law Group Today

If your loved one has developed a heel wound in a Los Angeles County nursing home, do not wait to take action. Contact us today to speak with an experienced Los Angeles nursing home heel wound lawyer who can guide you through the process of protecting your loved one’s rights.

We take all cases on a contingency fee basis—meaning there are no upfront costs, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your family. Consultations are always free and confidential.

Your loved one deserves dignity, safety, and proper care. Call Nursing Home Law Group today to connect with a trusted Los Angeles nursing home heel wound lawyer and hold negligent facilities accountable.

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