Stages of Bedsores: What To Look For in Care Facilities

Finding proper care for our loved ones can be difficult, particularly if they have medical needs that require a skilled nursing facility. We do our best to research different places and find one that will provide quality care. But even after we find a facility, we have to be diligent to make sure that quality care is actually being provided.

Bedsores are a common occurrence for people in nursing facilities. Despite the best intentions of staff, sometimes nurses and aides are not able to move a person as often as they should, and bedsore will develop. Bedsores are particularly understandable if the patient has suffered a recent change in their health status, as it can take a few days for providers to acclimate to those changes.

Though any bedsores are a warning sign of potential abuse or neglect, being aware of the different bedsore stages is important to determine the extent of the possible abuse. The four stages of bedsores include:

• Stage 1 – characterized by redness of the skin
• Stage 2 – characterized by a shallow open sore
• Stage 3 – characterized by complete loss of skin in the area
• Stage 4 – characterized by exposed muscle or even bone

Stage 1 bedsores can occur even with reasonably quality care, and with proper treatment should heal quickly. But if your loved one is suffering stage 2 or higher bedsores, this is a major cause for concern. And if your loved one has suffered a stage 4 bedsore, it is extremely likely that serious neglect is occurring.

If your loved one has suffered due to neglect by medical staff, it is important that you push for the necessary changes to ensure the health of your loved one and of everyone else in the facility. Though there are steps you can take on your own, an experienced attorney will have a clearer understanding of just how to make sure these problems are remedied.