Three residents at the Aurora Rehab and Living Center in Aurora Illinois developed pressure ulcers while residents of the facility. Pressure Ulcers, also known as bed sores, are some of the most dangerous and debilitating injuries that a nursing home resident can suffer.
Pressure ulcers are one of the most obvious signs of nursing home neglect because the leading causes of pressure ulcers are some of the most common forms of nursing home neglect.
The three most common causes of bed sores are consistently wet conditions, long periods of weight and pressure on one part of the body, and dehydration and malnutrition. The longer these conditions persist, the shorter the amount of time it takes bed sores to develop.
One of the residents developed pressure ulcers on both heels. This is a clear sign of being left in a wheelchair for too long. In some cases, residents are left in one position for hours at a time day after day. In an interview, the facility treatment nurse told Illinois Department of Public Health officials that he had no idea how the ulcers developed.
Another resident was evaluated by staff to be a high risk for developing ulcers. The resident was an Alzheimer’s patient. The resident developed bed sores on the buttocks. Again, this seems to be indicative of too much time spent in a wheelchair. There was no documentation found regarding the resident’s treatment after January. In March, the resident required hospitalization where additional bed sores were discovered on her heels.
The third resident developed pressure ulcers on her elbow. According to staff, this ulcer developed because of the pressure of the wheelchair armrest.
Bed sores can range in severity. They begin as ordinary-looking bruises, but they can quickly develop into open wounds that are bone-deep. Bone deep bed sores often lead to an infection of the bone called osteomyelitis which can be fatal.
Bed sores are difficult to cure. Because they develop in conditions of nursing home neglect, and curing bed sores requires extensive care, many bed sores never properly heal.
If you have a loved one who has developed bed sores in an Illinois nursing home, contact the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle for a free and confidential evaluation of your case.
One of our core beliefs is that nursing homes are built to fail due to the business model they follow and that unnecessary injuries and illnesses and wrongful deaths of residents are the inevitable result. Order our FREE report, Built to Fail, to learn more about why. Our experienced Chicago nursing home lawyers are ready to help you understand what happened, why, and what your rights are. Contact us to get the help you need.
Other blog posts of interest:
Resident suffers from bed sores at Parker Rehab
Surgery required for bed sore at Regency Rehab in Niles
Crossroads Care Center cited for bed sores
Gangrenous wound at Carlinville Rehab
Click here to file a complaint about a nursing home with the Illinois Department of Public Health.