What to Do if Your Parent Suffers Bed Sores in a Long-Term Care Facility
Bed sores are areas of damaged skin and underlying tissue that is usually a result of the skin being under pressure for an extended period of time. Bed sores most commonly develop in areas where bones are close to the surface of the skin, such as in the back, heels, and hips. Residents in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes are at a high risk of developing bed sores, particularly if they have limited mobility or are restricted to a bed or wheelchair.
Discovering that your loved one has developed bed sores in a nursing home is alarming. It is normal to feel stressed, upset, and unsure of what steps to take next. Below, our Tampa bed sores attorneys explain in greater detail.
Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Like so many medical conditions, bed sores are easiest to treat when they are in their early stages. Ask the medical staff in the facility to provide treatment for the injury immediately. If you do not feel safe asking the facility, take your parent to their own doctor, a wound care specialist or another medical provider.
Tell Nursing Home Staff Members
Inform nursing home staff members of the bed sores and ask how they developed. If the staff members cannot provide a reasonable answer, you should ask to speak to the nursing home owner or administrator. Additionally, also ensure the staff members take measures to prevent the bed sores from becoming worse such as changing your parent’s bedding and clothing and cleaning the wound.
Ask for a Care Plan
As soon as bed sores develop, the nursing home staff members should create a care plan. These plans outline how the injury will be treated, how often staff members will monitor the sores, and any future steps they will implement to prevent new bed sores from developing.
Collect Evidence
You or your parent may be able to file a claim for bed sores if they were caused by nursing home negligence. When filing a claim, you will need strong evidence to support your case. Take photos of the injuries, making note of the size, location, and severity of the injury. Also take photos of any negligent condition that could have resulted in bed sores, such as dirty linen or unhygienic residents.
Testimony from other residents can also help these cases, particularly if they have also developed bed sores due to neglect. Your parent’s medical records can also prove the cause and severity of the sores. A Tampa bed sores attorneys can help you collect other important evidence such as nursing home staffing records and expert medical testimony.
Call Our Bed Sores Attorneys in Tampa
If your parent has developed bed sores or any other injury in a nursing home, our Tampa bed sores attorneys at Kohn Law can provide the legal advice you need. Our experienced attorneys can determine who is liable for your parent’s injury, collect the evidence that will prove your case, and help your family obtain the full compensation you deserve. Call us today at 813-428-8504 or contact us online to request a consultation and to learn more about how we can help.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0400/0400.html
