A long-term resident at Helia Healthcare of Champaign in Champaign, Illinois developed a stage III bed sore while a resident of the facility. The resident has been at Helia Healthcare since 2008 with vascular dementia, chronic pain syndrome, disfigurement, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. In addition, she has contractures, severe cognitive impairment, and incontinence.
In short, this is a resident in chronic pain and confusion. She is completely dependent on nursing home staff for all basic needs.
There’s no question that bed sores develop quickly in the presence of nursing home neglect. The bed sore, designated a stage III, was first reported on October 21. Prior to that day, there was no indication in her medical records of any skin breakdown. Because the resident is considered a high risk for bed sores, skin-checks were supposed to be completed every week.
A bed sore is designated a stage III bed sore when it is a deep open wound. According to the Mayo Clinic, these wounds have a “crater” like appearance and may extend well below the surface of the skin. There are four stages of bed sore (I – IV). Stage III bed sores don’t develop overnight. Either the skin-checks were not being done, or they were being done in such a cursory manner that obvious signs of skin breakdown were missed.
During the recent nursing home inspection, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) inspectors noted that pressure relieving cushions were not being used, and that the resident was being left for hours without being repositioned.
Under these conditions, there’s very little chance that the bed sore will ever properly heal. When bed sores are left untreated, they become infected. These infections can be fatal, and be the basis for a nursing home wrongful death lawsuit.
If you have a loved one in an Illinois nursing home who has developed a bed sore, contact one of our bed sore lawyers as soon as possible for a free and confidential evaluation of your case.
At the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle we never charge a fee unless we get a recovery for you.
Other blog posts of interest:
Failure to notify doctor of abnormal labs at Champsign Urbana Nursing & Rehab
Lake Shore Healthcare cited for bed sores
Bed sores at Lake Forest Place