Bedsores in Los Angeles Nursing Homes

Nursing home residents expect to live comfortably and receive proper medical care. Unfortunately, many experience neglect and poor treatment in these facilities. One of the most common problems for immobile residents is developing bedsores.

Those experiencing bedsores in Los Angeles nursing homes may be victims of negligent care. If this has happened to your loved one, they have the right to pursue legal action and seek compensation for their injuries. Our experienced nursing home abuse attorneys could review their case and explain the available options.

What are Bedsores?

Bedsores—also referred to as pressure ulcers—are wounds caused by continuous pressure on the skin. In nursing homes, they often develop when residents remain in the same position for extended periods. Bedsores form when pressure reduces blood flow to an area on the skin, leading to tissue damage that results in an open wound. For many patients, it can take weeks or months to heal from these injuries.

These wounds can appear anywhere, but they are particularly common on certain parts of the body, such as the:

• Elbows
• Heels
• Back
• Ankles
• Back of the head

In addition to being caused by prolonged pressure, bedsores may also occur due to constant friction or moisture on the skin.

This condition has four distinct categories based on severity. At stage one, the skin does not change color when pressed. Stage four is the most severe, where the wound exposes muscle, tendon, or bone.

In serious cases, these injuries can cause severe pain and take months to heal. Our attorneys in Los Angeles could assess whether nursing home bedsores sustained by your loved one may lead to a legal claim for compensation.

When Nursing Homes Are Liable for Bedsores

The threat of bedsores is pervasive in nursing home settings, which is why medical professionals have developed clear guidance for preventing them among immobile patients. Not all residents get this care for a variety of reasons. When the actions or inaction of a nursing home are responsible for your loved one developing this condition, you may be able to pursue a claim for compensation.

Bedsores often occur due to neglect. Staff members might fail to reposition a resident regularly or check on them at all. When these ulcers occur, some care providers might fail to treat them.

Another common factor that can lead to this condition is understaffing. Each resident in a facility needs a substantial level of care, which is not possible without a full staff. When nursing homes face understaffing, residents do not get the care they need. This is often a sign of negligence, as poor hiring and training practices can make it impossible for management to keep appropriate staffing levels.

In Los Angeles, when bedsores occur in nursing homes due to negligence, your loved one is entitled to seek compensation for their injuries. Our attorneys could help make this process seamless. We look forward to advocating on their behalf and ensuring that your loved one is treated fairly by the court.

Talk to Our Los Angeles Lawyers About Bedsores Caused by Negligent Nursing Homes

If your close family member has bedsores, there may be options for holding the nursing home and its staff accountable for their substandard care. At Levin & Nalbandyan, our attorneys are prepared to carefully review the medical records and determine the facts of the situation. Reach out to us as soon as possible to discuss a claim related to bedsores in Los Angeles nursing homes.