San Luis Obispo Stage 4 Bedsore Lawyer

Anytime a person is immobile or is confined to a bed or chair, bed sores can develop. In nursing homes in San Luis Obispo, facilities have a duty to take steps so that older adult patients do not develop dangerous bed sores, and if they do, these facilities have a duty to ensure that the patient receives immediate treatment so that the bed sores do not worsen. When bed sores are left untreated, they can worsen significantly. Over time, a patient’s bed sores can become life-threatening. If you or someone you love developed a severe bed sore at a skilled nursing facility in Southern California, you should seek advice from a San Luis Obispo stage 4 bed sore lawyer as soon as possible.

Stage 4 bed sores are the worst type of bed sore, and they result from an earlier stage bed sore going untreated. As Johns Hopkins Medicine explains, bed sores, which are also known as pressure ulcers, tend to “happen on areas of the skin that are under pressure from lying in bed, sitting in a wheelchair, or wearing a cast for a prolonged time.” Sometimes these wounds are also known as pressure injuries or decubitus ulcers.

Stage 1 bed sores are typically warm to the touch, and they may hurt, itch, or burn. These bed sores can be treated relatively easily and may not require additional medical attention. Stage 2 bed sores are more serious, and they often “have an open sore, scrape, or blister.” The nursing home resident will typically experience substantial pain with a Stage 2 bed sore. Stage 3 bed sores are significantly more serious and painful, and they develop a “crater-like appearance” since they go below the surface of the skin. Medical attention is necessary. Once a bed sore becomes a Stage 4 bed sore, Johns Hopkins explains that “the area is severely damaged, and a large wound is present.”

Nearly any elderly nursing home resident who has limited mobility can be at risk of a Stage 4 bed sore, especially in understaffed facilities where passive neglect is a serious issue.

As WebMD explains, bed sores can develop relatively quickly for any skilled nursing facility resident who is sitting or lying in the same position for an extended period of time. To be sure, if you remain in the same position for too long, then “the weight of your body against the surface of the bed or chair cuts off blood supply.” If a facility does not employ sufficient staff to ensure that bed sores do not develop, or to ensure that bed sores are treated properly, the facility may be held accountable for negligence.

If you have an elderly loved one who developed a bed sore in a nursing home, you should get in touch with our San Luis Obispo stage 4 bed sore attorneys to learn more about filing a claim for financial compensation. You may be able to hold the skilled nursing facility accountable for the injuries caused by its negligence. Contact the Southern California Nursing Home Law Group today for more information about our services and to get started on your case.