Causes of Bedsores in Virginia Nursing Homes
If your aging loved one resides in a nursing home and is suffering from a bedsore, you might be wondering how it developed. What are the causes of bedsores in Virginia nursing homes? Is this just something that nursing residents develop or are there steps that the staff in the nursing home could have taken to prevent the bedsore?
The vast majority of bedsores could be prevented if the right steps for resident care in a nursing home are followed. While this is good news, it could be very disheartening if your loved one already has a bedsore.
You may feel helpless in regards to your relative’s painful and disfiguring condition. However, you can seek justice for them by hiring a skilled nursing home abuse lawyer.
Common Causes of Bedsores in Nursing Facilities
A bedsore, also known as a pressure ulcer is an injury to the skin and underlying tissues due to continuous pressure or friction to the skin. The pressure reduces vital blood flow, and therefore oxygen to those tissues. As a result, those tissues begin to die.
Anyone who works with nursing home residents or has a loved one living in a nursing home should bed aware of the risk factors for developing a bedsore. By knowing the causes of bedsores in nursing homes in Virginia, prevention is possible. For existing bedsores, this knowledge could help determine who is liable.
Friction
When the skin is dragged across a surface, there is increased friction, especially if the skin is moist. Friction is likely to occur during position changes or moving residents. It can also be caused by common devices and objects used in a nursing home such as oxygen tubing, splints, G-tubes, and wrinkled draw sheets.
Shear
When two surfaces move in opposite directions, shear occurs. This frequently happens when a resident slides down in their bed.
Other causes and risk factors for bedsores in nursing homes include:
- Smoking
- Poor nutrition
- Immobility
- Incontinence
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Weight loss
Virginia’s Statute of Limitations for Bedsores
A statute of limitations is the amount of time given by law for an injured party to file a lawsuit. Virginia Code § 8.01-243 provides a two-year statute of limitations. The nursing home resident or in some cases a family member on their behalf has two years from the date they discover the bedsore to file a lawsuit for their injuries.
The statute of limitations is important to note as not abiding by it can cause potential plaintiffs to lose their ability to seek compensation. Contacting an attorney as soon as possible after the bedsore is discovered could help potential plaintiffs to exercise their full legal rights.
What Gives a Bedsore Case Merit?
In order to have a valid bedsore case, the attorney must see that several factors exist. The nursing home must have had a duty to provide care to the resident. In negligently allowing a bedsore to form, the nursing home failed to provide that care.
Due to that failure, the resident developed a bedsore which caused the resident to suffer damages as a result. Damages may include pain and suffering, medical expenses, disfigurement, and mental anguish.
How a Virginia Nursing Home Bedsore Attorney Can Help
Negligence of the nursing home and its staff often lead to nursing home residents developing bedsores. By not knowing or caring about the causes of bedsores in Virginia nursing homes, residents are at risk.
A bedsore attorney could help you seek justice if your loved one has a bedsore. Call today to learn more.
