What is Improper Wound Care in a Nursing Home?

 Posted on January 21, 2021 in Sepsis

Nursing home residents live in nursing home facilities because they have mental or physical disabilities that make independent living an impractical or unsafe option. Often, nursing home residents suffer from multiple illnesses and age-related health concerns at the same time which can make them especially vulnerable. It is for this reason that nurses, nurses’ aides, and other medical workers are on staff. When a nursing home resident develops a bed sore, falls, or is otherwise injured, nursing home staff must take appropriate steps to treat the wound. Improper wound care can lead to infection, sepsis, and even death.

Special Attention Must Be Paid to Sick and Elderly Residents

When a child scrapes his or her knee, he or she may put a bandage on the wound and forget about it soon after. The wound then heals on its own without complication. However, elderly and disabled individuals’ bodies do not heal as quickly from soft tissue injuries as those who are young and healthy. This is why it is crucial that nursing home staff properly treat resident injuries and carefully monitor the resident for signs of infection or other medical problems. This is especially true for residents who cannot advocate for themselves due to physical or mental impairments.

Some of the most common types of wounds suffered by nursing home residents include:

• Diabetic ulcers
• Pressure ulcers or bedsores
• Post-operative wounds
• Venous and arterial ulcers
• Lacerations
• Burns

Nursing home staff should take the appropriate measures to clean and dress the wound. Staff should carefully monitor the resident for signs that the wound is not healing properly or has become infected. An infected wound may be red, swollen, and pus-filled. Fever, confusion, weakness, and fatigue may also be signs of an infection.

Holding a Negligent Nursing Home Accountable

When nursing home staff fail to properly treat and monitor resident wounds, the wounds can become dangerously infected. The wound may even develop into sepsis which sets off a life-threatening inflammatory response throughout the resident’s body. If your loved one was a victim of improper wound care, you may be interested in taking legal action against the negligent nursing home. A nursing home neglect claim against the facility may enable you to hold the facility accountable for your loved one’s needless suffering. You may also be entitled to compensation for damages such as medical bills and funeral and burial costs.

Contact a Chicago Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

If you or your loved one were the victim of nursing home negligence, contact an experienced Cook County nursing home injury attorney from Schwartz Injury Law to discuss your legal options. Call us at 312-535-4625 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.healthline.com/health/sepsis