There are many times in our lives when losing eight pounds in four months would be cause for celebration. For residents in nursing homes and hospitals, unintended weight loss is a very, very bad thing. In a nursing home, it nearly always is the first sign of nursing home neglect. Sadly, it isn’t the only sign.
As an experienced bed sore lawyer, a monthly weight report can tell quite a story. The Department of Public Health, in their recent violation report of Rochelle Rehab and Health Care Center in Rochelle, Illinois, shows a clear picture of a resident wasting away from nursing home neglect. The report says everything there is to know about the care provided at the Rochelle Rehab: October -125lbs; November – 123lbs; December – 120lbs; January – 117lbs.
Dehydration and malnutrition are the primary catalysts in the development of bed sores, also known as pressure ulcers. Sure enough, bed sores quickly developed on the Rochelle Rehab resident – an astounding nine bed sores quickly developed.
The development of a single bed sore is a sign of nursing home neglect. The development of nine on a single resident is appalling.
Generally, there are three conditions that lend themselves to bed sores. A resident with only one condition is unlikely to develop bed sores. A nursing home resident with two or three conditions becomes very likely to develop bed sores. Like many injuries that occur to the elderly, bed sores take a long time to heal, making them impossible for nursing homes to hide.
In addition to dehydration and malnutrition, the two other major contributing factors to bed sores are dampness and spending a long period of time in one position. Remaining in one place for an extended period of times puts tremendous pressure on the skin and tissue where the body rests. Over time, it can cause those points to open. A stage-4 bed sore is an open wound that reaches the bone. One stage-4 pressure ulcer was found on the Rochelle Rehab and Health Care resident.
Illinois nursing home inspectors witnessed the resident being left from 8:30 AM until 2:00 PM without ever being toileted or adjusted. In addition, dressings and pressure relieving devices ordered by the resident’s physician were never obtained.
Bed sores should never develop in a nursing home. By simply providing the standard of care consistently, bed sores can be prevented. When a bed sore does develop in a nursing home, it is almost always a sign of nursing home neglect.
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 develops bed sores to both knees at Royal Oaks Care Center in Kewanee
Bed sore requires surgery for resident at Timbercreek Rehab in Pekin
Sauk Valley Living Center fails to care for tracheostomy
Low staff levels and bed sores at California Gardens
Resident acquires bed sore at Meadowbrook Manor of Bolingbrook
Multiple bed sores at Snow Valley
Click here to file a complaint about a nursing home with the Illinois Department of Public Health.