Bed Sores in San Jose Nursing Homes — What Families Need to Know

Bed sores — also called pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers — are among the clearest and most troubling indicators of nursing home neglect. In San Jose, families frequently discover these wounds only after their loved one has already suffered significant pain, infection, or hospitalization.

A pressure ulcer is not an inevitable part of aging. It is almost always preventable. When a resident develops a bedsore in a skilled nursing facility or assisted living home in San Jose, Santa Clara, or anywhere in the South Bay, it is almost always the result of negligence.

If your loved one has developed bed sores, a San Jose nursing home neglect lawyer can help you determine what went wrong and whether the facility should be held legally responsible.

Bed sores develop when pressure restricts blood flow to the skin over prolonged periods. This only happens when residents are:

• Not repositioned regularly
• Left in the same position for hours
• Not assisted with mobility
• Ignored when they are uncomfortable
• Left in wet or soiled bedding
• Not given proper nutrition or hydration

These are clear violations of the basic care standards required under California law. In serious cases, pressure ulcers can lead to infections, osteomyelitis, sepsis, and wrongful death.

Facilities are legally required to monitor residents for early signs of skin breakdown.

• Stage 1: Redness, irritation, or warm skin
• Stage 2: Blisters or shallow open sores
• Stage 3: Deep wounds into the fat tissue
• Stage 4: Wounds reaching muscle or bone — a medical emergency

Stage 3 and Stage 4 bedsores are widely recognized as signs of severe negligence and sometimes malpractice, depending on the involvement of licensed medical staff.

Almost always — yes.

• Preventing pressure ulcers requires:
• Repositioning every 1–2 hours if ordered
• Frequent skin checks
• Adequate hydration and nutrition
• Assistance with mobility
• Prompt attention to discomfort
• Clean bedding and hygiene
• Using pressure-relieving devices

If a facility in San Jose failed to follow these steps, your family may be entitled to significant compensation.

For more than 20 years, Nursing Home Law Group has represented families whose loved ones suffered preventable bed sores in nursing homes across San Jose, Campbell, Willow Glen, Morgan Hill, Milpitas, and the surrounding communities.

We know how to uncover staff logs, wound care charts, medical records, and facility inspection reports to show exactly how and why your loved one was harmed. Our attorneys are experts at exposing chronic understaffing, falsified documentation, and dangerous cost-cutting practices.

When you hire a San Jose nursing home neglect lawyer from our team, you gain an advocate who understands the medical, legal, and emotional complexities of pressure-ulcer cases.

Every bedsore case begins with a free, comprehensive investigation.

Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning:

• No upfront costs
• No hourly charges
• No attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation
• This allows every family — regardless of financial situation — to pursue justice without risk.

Bed sores are one of the most preventable and most alarming signs of nursing home negligence. They are a red flag that your loved one is not receiving the care they deserve.

Contact a San Jose nursing home neglect lawyer at Nursing Home Law Group today for a free consultation. Our Bay Area elder neglect lawyers will fight for your loved one’s safety, health, and dignity — and hold negligent facilities fully accountable.