How Does a Stage 4 Pressure Sore in a Nursing Home Happen?

 Posted on March 31, 2025 in Bed Sores

Negligence in nursing homes can have serious health consequences. Pressure sores, or bedsores, are one such example, especially when they are neglected and become infected, leaving elderly residents in agonizing pain and at a greater risk of serious complications. However, the most serious kind of pressure sores - Stage 4 pressure sores - do not happen overnight. Oftentimes, these sores are the result of prolonged negligence and a lack of intervention by untrained or understaffed nursing homes.

When these facilities refuse to answer for the harm they cause, an Illinois personal injury attorney can help you take action. At Schwartz Injury Law, our lawyers can identify Stage 4 pressure sores and investigate the cause behind them, pursuing fair compensation for your elderly relative’s injuries. Since our firm was established, we have represented the victims of nursing home injuries and their families in numerous cases, with a long track record of success.

What Is a Pressure Sore?

A pressure sore is a painful ulcer localized around a small part of the skin. As the name implies, these injuries are caused by prolonged pressure on one part of the body for a long period of time. When blood flow is restricted due to this pressure, the underlying tissue may die, leading to swelling and blistering in the affected area. A pressure sore can develop in a matter of hours, so preventing these injuries requires careful monitoring and swift action from nursing home staff.

Pressure sores can develop anywhere, but they most commonly develop on the elbows, heels, hips, and ankles. If caught in the early stages, a pressure sore can be treated by relieving the strain on the affected area using a pillow or another soft surface. However, if the injury progresses, it may require more involved treatment such as surgery or skin therapy.

Understaffing is a common contributing factor in bedsores. When there are simply not enough employees to watch over the residents, some people will inevitably end up in worse condition. However, understaffing is no excuse for nursing home injuries. At Schwartz Injury Law, we will fight to see that the harm done to your loved one because of understaffing does not go unaddressed.

Stages of Pressure Sores 

Bedsores go through several distinct phases before reaching Stage 4, the most severe kind of bedsore. These stages are as follows:

• Stage 1: This stage is characterized by redness of the skin. A Stage 1 bedsore may be noticeably warm to the touch, and sufferers may experience an itchy sensation around the area. This can be alleviated and treated by turning the person over and dressing the wound, allowing for recovery in a few days.

• Stage 2: This stage is characterized by blistering and open wounds. Over time, a Stage 2 pressure sore can cause physical discomfort and expose the patient to infection. After bandaging the wound, recovering from a Stage 2 bedsore may take weeks.

• Stage 3: This stage is characterized by broken skin and extreme pain. By this point, the tissue beneath the skin has been damaged, requiring a combination of surgery and antibiotics to recover from. Stage 3 bedsores can take months to properly heal from.

• Stage 4: This stage is characterized by damage to tendons, muscle, and bones beneath the skin. These wounds are at high risk of infection, jeopardizing the health and well-being of the patient. A Stage 4 bedsore should be addressed as soon as possible, and it may take years before this wound can fully heal.

The longer a bedsore goes unaddressed, the greater the risk to the patient. If you notice the early symptoms of a bedsore developing on your loved one, you should arrange for him or her to receive treatment as soon as possible.

Evidence in a Bedsores Claim

At Schwartz Injury Law, our nursing home injury attorneys can help you build a case to prove that your loved one developed a bedsore as a result of negligence on the part of the nursing home. First, we can look at your loved one’s wounds to see how long the pressure sore was left unaddressed, taking pictures and gathering medical notes to document the damage.

As part of our investigation, we can also obtain your loved one’s medical records and care plan to see what steps, if any, were taken by the staff to prevent bedsores. This can be supported by supplementary evidence such as witness testimony from other residents or security camera footage. We will make sure that your loved one’s personal injury claim stands on a solid foundation before we take it to the nursing home’s insurance company.

Compensation for a Stage 4 Pressure Sore

If your loved one has suffered a bedsore in the care of a nursing home, he or she may be entitled to compensation for multiple types of damages, including medical expenses and his or her pain and suffering. At Schwartz Injury Law, our lawyers can help you get a full estimate for the value of your loved one’s personal injury claim so that we can advocate for maximum compensation.

Negotiating for compensation can be a difficult process. The nursing home’s insurance company will likely be unwilling to pay your loved one for the full worth of his or her damages. The insurance company may even try to sabotage the claim by asserting that the nursing home was not liable for the bedsore.

At Schwartz Injury Law, we will take an aggressive stance in negotiations for a settlement, and if necessary, we are prepared to take your loved one’s claim to trial.

Meet With a Chicago, IL Nursing Home Injury Attorney Today

When bedsores are not treated in a timely manner, elderly nursing home residents undergo needless suffering. At Schwartz Injury Law, our Cook County, IL nursing home neglect lawyers are here to advocate for your loved one’s rights, fighting to hold negligent facilities responsible.

To speak with a real attorney and schedule a free consultation, call our offices at 312-535-4625 today.