Ross F. Mann | December 5, 2025 | Nursing Home Abuse
Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, are areas of damaged skin and tissues caused by sustained pressure. It’s a problem that occurs in people who have mobility issues. Not moving for prolonged periods cuts off blood flow, potentially leading to tissue death. This problem is often the result of medical malpractice and negligence on the part of caregivers.
Can bedsores heal? Learn more about these serious injuries and what steps medical professionals can take to help a loved one who has developed one.
Methods for Healing a Bedsore
When looking for how to treat a bedsore, caregivers need to keep numerous steps in mind. Addressing the injury as soon as possible is paramount.
Take Pressure off the Affected Area
The moment your loved one’s caregiver notices a bedsore, they must ensure the impacted area is not under further pressure. That means your loved one must be examined regularly. The most likely spots for these injuries to begin are on the skin over bony areas, like heels, hips, tailbones, or ankles.
It’s possible to recognize bedsores even at their earliest stages by keeping an eye on a few signs, including:
- Swelling
- Changes in skin color
- Skin temperature feels different
- Pus-like draining
By removing pressure, caregivers allow blood to flow to the injury, enabling it to start healing. This step will also help ease some of the pain your loved one feels.
Clean the Injured Skin
Treating a bedsore requires doing everything possible to avoid infections. To do so, medical professionals need to clean the area. It’s important to be gentle and use only mild soaps. If the skin has already broken, a saline solution could be a better choice.
The care staff should then thoroughly dry the area. Moisture can further weaken the skin and increase the chances of infection. When drying the skin, the provider must not scrape or further irritate the injury.
Dress the Wound
Even if the skin hasn’t broken, the care staff must add a dressing of some kind to protect the weakened skin. A simple bandage or gauze might be enough for some sores, but more specialized options for wound care will be needed for extreme bedsores. This dressing needs to be changed regularly.
Avoid Further Pressure
Often, people assume that the patient will be able to state when they are feeling pain or need to shift positions. That may not be the case, however, if a patient is unconscious or has cognitive issues that make communication difficult. Nursing home neglect often causes these injuries and allows them to get worse because staff might not check the residents often enough.
Provide the Right Nutrition and Hydration
To help the healing process, caregivers should also offer residents nutritious meals and make sure they’re hydrated. Adequate nutrition makes a significant difference to skin elasticity while also providing the support the person needs to fight off infections.
Your Legal Options After Nursing Home Neglect
If a loved one has developed a pressure ulcer because of any type of negligence, they may be entitled to file a claim against the responsible parties.
It’s essential to act quickly, however, since there is a limited time to file a lawsuit after a personal injury. Kentucky only allows one year to file a personal injury lawsuit, so hiring an attorney as quickly as possible is vital.
With representation, your loved one can receive the compensation they deserve for what they have suffered.
Contact the Lexington Nursing Home Neglect Attorneys at Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
If you or a loved one has suffered bedsores due to a nursing home’s negligence, Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help. Our Lexington nursing home neglect lawyers fight to recover full compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.
If you were injured in an accident in Lexington, and need legal help, contact our nursing home attorneys at Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers, to schedule a free case review today.
We proudly serve Fayette County and the surrounding areas.
Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers – Lexington
501 Darby Creek Rd UNIT 48
Lexington, KY 40509
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