Elder Abuse & Nursing Home Neglect

When to Hire a Philadelphia Bed Sore Attorney

If you have a family member in a Philadelphia or Philadelphia County-area nursing home, you should know that he or she may be at risk of bed sores. Bed sores are not to be taken lightly. They are serious medical conditions that if left untreated can lead to far more serious conditions such as sepsis, gangrene, amputations and death. Bed sores are often a sign of nursing home neglect. If you fear your loved one is at risk of or has already developed a bed sore, call Attorney Brian P. Murphy today for a free, one-on-one consultation.

Bed Sores are Often Avoidable

Bed sores, also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers, occur frequently at Philadelphia and Philadelphia County-area nursing homes. Although you may hear otherwise by the nursing home staff, bed sores in most cases can be avoided when nurses provide proper skin care and treatment.

Defining Bed Sores

Bed sores are wounds. They develop as a result of unrelieved pressure against the skin. Bed sores commonly develop on areas of the body where there is a thinner layer of muscle tissue between skin and a bony prominence. Examples of areas of bony prominences include:

Heels
Buttocks
Sacrum
Hips
Ischium (sit bone)
Elbows
Shoulder blades

Causes of Bed Sores

Since bed sores are pressure-induced wounds they cannot and will not develop unless the body is exposed to unrelieved pressure. Pressure on the bony prominences often comes about when nursing home residents are left lying or sitting for long periods of time without repositioning. When the bony prominences are exposed to such continuous pressure, the skin begins to breakdown and a wound forms. Depending upon how quickly and effectively the nursing home staff takes action the wound can either resolve or deteriorate.

Bed Sores Different Stages

Bed sores come in four separate stages. Each increased stages indicates an increasingly worsening wound. A stage I bed sore is a minor skin issue and if treated and cared for properly the wound can quickly be healed. A stage II bed sore comes in the form of a blister or abrasion. It too is a relatively minor wound that if treated and cared for properly will be reversed. However, a stage III represents a serious worsening of the wound and by stage IV the wound is now a severe life-threatening medical condition.

Nursing Homes Negligence

Residents admitted to a Philadelphia or Philadelphia County-area nursing homes are required under federal and state statutory law to have their skin promptly assessed for potential skin breakdown. If it is determined that the resident is at high risk for skin ulcers, the nursing staff is required to pay very close attention to the issue. If the skin is not properly assessed, monitored and treated then neglect has occurred and the nursing home can be held liable for their wrongful conduct.

If your loved one is at risk or has already developed a bed sore, contact nursing home bed sore attorney, Brian P. Murphy, and get your questions answered.

“On behalf of my sister and myself, thank you for all you and your staff have done in our mother’s honor. The dedication and level of professionalism exhibited by you and your team in a word is…. unmatched.“

Darryl W.

Contact an Experienced Nursing Home Attorney

Brian P. Murphy, Esq. is an experienced and well-regarded nursing home abuse attorney who has successfully represented many elderly residents subjected to nursing home abuse and neglect. Mr. Murphy handles cases throughout Philadelphia / Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

If you see signs of nursing home abuse or neglect, take immediate action today. Contact nursing home abuse attorney, Brian P. Murphy for a free, confidential, one-on-one consultation.

See what Mr. Murphy’s former clients think of him on his testimonial page.

* Nothing on this website is to be construed as attorney advice or otherwise creating an attorney-client relationship.