If you are a New Mexico resident with a parent living in a nursing home or continuing care facility, you probably want to assume that the care they receive there is equal or superior to the care that you, yourself, would provide. Regrettably, however, this is not always the case, with nursing home abuse, neglect and understaffing all rampant problems across New Mexico and the rest of the nation. At The Harvey, Foote & Baker Law Firm, we recognize that bed sores are one of many problems that can arise when nursing home staff fail to uphold the duties of their job, and we have helped many residents and their families who developed bedsores because of nursing home neglect seek appropriate recourse.
According to the Mayo Clinic, bedsores, which are also known as pressure ulcers, are especially common among those with limited mobility, which is why they are such a common problem among nursing home and continuing care facility residents. Residents who spend the majority of their time confined to a bed or wheelchair are at particularly high risk of developing bedsores. Therefore, it is especially critical that nursing home staff members make regular efforts to shift and move patients who are at risk.
Bedsores can develop quickly, and they can lead to a host of other problems, some of which are life-threatening in nature. In some cases, bedsores and pressure ulcers can lead to a form of cancer known as squamous cell carcinoma, and they can also cause bone infections, joint infections, cellulitis skin infections and even sepsis.
There are, however, steps nursing home staff members can take to reduce the risk of residents developing bedsores. Moving at-risk residents at regular intervals can help reduce the risk of bedsores, as can making efforts to keep skin clean and dry. You can find out more about nursing home abuse and neglect on our webpage.