Lincolnshire Nursing Home Accused of Neglecting Leg Wounds

 Posted on December 06, 2024 in Nursing Home Abuse

Several months ago, a Lincolnshire nursing home was accused of nursing home abuse and neglect by a woman whose husband died from an infection of his leg wounds. The woman claimed that improper care resulted in her husband’s sepsis and subsequent death. The same facility faced unrelated claims regarding a major staffing shortage that left elderly patients with no medical care for hours.

The woman stated her husband’s leg wounds (the result of diabetes) were being properly treated when he was first admitted to the nursing home, but that in May 2023, the nursing home changed owners, and the level of care dropped significantly. The woman said her husband's leg wounds were so bad the bones could be seen and that he was transported from the facility to the hospital for confusion and paranoia related to sepsis infection.

Although the husband was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics for sepsis and cellulitis, he died two weeks after admission to the hospital. If you have a loved one who resides in an Illinois nursing home and you suspect abuse or neglect, it is important that you speak to an experienced Chicago, IL nursing home abuse attorney from Schwartz Injury Law.

What Are the Most Common Types of Wounds in Nursing Homes?

Bedsores and pressure ulcers are common wounds in nursing homes, usually the result of the resident not being turned or moved often enough. Other types of wounds seen in nursing homes include:

• Diabetic foot and leg ulcers

• Amputation wounds

• Venous ulcers

• Burns

• Skin tearing wound

• Bedrail injuries

• Head injuries

One study found that the most common types of wounds in nursing homes were abrasion wounds (37.49 percent), pressure ulcers and bedsores (17.43 percent), surgical wounds (13.25 percent), skin tears (9.41 percent), and moisture-associated skin damage (4.09 percent). The coccyx (tailbone) is the most common area where wounds are located among nursing home patients, followed by the forearms.

Bedsores Among Nursing Home Residents

When the blood flow to the skin is cut off, bedsores can result. Nursing home residents have a higher risk of bedsores because many of them are unable to reposition themselves. In situations where nursing homes are short-staffed, bedsores may go unnoticed until they become infected. If left untreated, infected bedsores can lead to deadly complications.  The first signs of a bedsore are red or purple skin marks. Untreated, the skin breaks, leaving an open wound. Bedsores can burrow deep into the skin, even exposing the bone in some cases.   

The three primary forces that cause nursing home bedsores include:

• When the skin is dragged against another surface, friction can lead to bedsores.

• When the skin consistently has pressure against it that is greater than the pressure inside the blood vessels, bedsores can result.

• When two surfaces move in different directions, shear can result. Shear is similar in nature to friction but occurs when the skin moves, but the muscles and bones do not.

Bony areas like the heels, ankles, and tailbone, which have little muscle or fat padding, are the most common areas for bedsores. Residents with limited mobility who remain in their beds or wheelchairs for long periods of time have a higher risk of bedsores. Age contributes to bedsore risk, as the skin of older individuals tends to be less elastic, dry, thin, and fragile.  

Medical conditions that increase the likelihood of bedsores include:

•  Dementia

• Alzheimer’s

• Diabetes and other vascular diseases

• Incontinence

•  Muscle spasms

•  Poor nutrition

•  Dehydration

• Spinal cord injuries

Stage one bedsores or pressure sores occur when the skin remains intact but there are red or purple marks on the skin which are painful, tender, or warm. A stage two bedsore has pierced the outer layer of the skin and may resemble a ruptured blister.

Stage three bedsores are deep enough to expose the fatty tissue, resembling a crater with a yellow-tinged base. Damage from a stage three bedsore can spread to other areas. The most severe type of bedsore is a stage four bedsore, where tendons, bones, and muscles are exposed. In a stage four bedsore, the base of the wound contains dead tissue.  

How Lack of Proper Diabetes Care in Nursing Homes Can Lead to Serious Issues

As many as a third of all nursing home residents in the United States have diabetes. This requires regular monitoring of blood sugar levels, medication management, personalized diet plans, and attention to any wound, no matter how small. Elderly patients with diabetes who are not properly treated often die prematurely and experience higher levels of physical and mental disabilities. Elderly patients with diabetes are more likely to have:

• Chronic pain

• Depression

• Strokes

• An increase in falls

• Urinary incontinence

• High blood pressure

• Heart disease

• Increased risk of amputations

•  Cognitive impairments, including dementia and Alzheimer’s

• A reduced life expectancy

Diabetic care for nursing home residents should include regular monitoring of blood glucose levels, carefully monitored intake of carbohydrates and sugar, dedicated meal planning, administration of insulin or other prescribed diabetes medications at regular intervals, fall prevention measures, strict control of infections, and daily foot care to check for damage, numbness, or blisters.

What Should You Look for to Determine Whether Your Loved One’s Wounds and General Health Are Being Properly Cared For?

If you notice any of the following in your loved one, you should take action to ensure his or her safety and health.

• When you visit your loved one with diabetes, take a blood sugar reading with a simple finger stick monitor. If you are seeing frequent excessively high or low readings, there may not be adequate management of medication, monitoring, or proper nutrition.

• If you see foot sores or other types of sores, the staff may not be spending time checking for and treating them appropriately.

• If you see a sudden weight gain or loss in your loved one, he or she may not be receiving proper or adequate nutrition.

• When a patient has frequent skin infections or frequent UTIs, poor hygiene may play a part, or the facility may not have proper infection controls in place.

• You may see signs of anxiety or depression in your loved one. While there can be many causes for this, one cause is poor blood sugar level regulation, while another is abuse or neglect.

• Frequent falls may indicate a lack of fall prevention measures or poor blood sugar management in a patient with diabetes.  

• If your loved one has frequent hospital visits for diabetes-related complications or for any other reason, abuse or neglect could be present.  

Contact a Cook County, IL Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer

If you suspect your loved one is not being properly cared for at an Illinois nursing home or that he or she has suffered some form of abuse, there are steps you can take to ensure his or her safety. When you speak to a Chicago, IL nursing home abuse lawyer from Schwartz Injury Law, your loved one will immediately have a strong advocate who will fight for his or her right to be treated with respect and receive necessary care. Prospective clients will speak to an actual lawyer, never an intake service or a staff member. Call 312-535-4625 today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your concerns.