New Jersey Bed Sore and Pressure Ulcer Lawyer

Experienced Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Representing Clients Injured in Bed Sore and Pressure Ulcer Incidents in Morris County, Union County, and Throughout NJ

When a loved one is in a nursing home, you expect the highest level of care for them. This is especially true when your loved one is elderly and bedridden, as those in this situation require the highest level of care imaginable from nursing home staff. What happens when you decide to visit your loved one and, while you are there, you can tell that they are in pain and suffering from a bed sore? Bed sores in nursing homes are a telltale sign of nursing home neglect by those who are supposed to ensure the highest level of care for your loved one.

If you notice a bed sore on your loved one, your first thought should be that they might not be receiving the level of care and attention that is needed to properly care for someone in a nursing home. In almost all cases, a loved one having a bed sore means that they received substandard care, lack of medical attention, poor nutrition, and failure to reposition, which means that your loved one fell victim to neglect by a caretaker who was supposed to constantly take care of them.

You have a right to be suspicious about the health of your loved one and the standard care that they are receiving if you find bed sores. At Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari, our experienced nursing home accident attorneys are here to help you protect the rights of your loved one when you feel as if their care has fallen below standard. We will help you hold a care facility liable for your loved one’s injuries if the circumstances call for it.

What Are Bed Sores and How Do They Develop?

Bed sores are commonly referred to as pressure sores and pressure ulcers. In most occasions, they take place due to lack of blood flow to the skin in areas such as elbows, shoulder blades, pelvis, tailbones, and heels. In most cases, an elderly person will not develop a bed sore if they are able to get up and walk around or reposition themselves. It is typically the elderly people that are unable to do this and rely on the care of others to help them reposition frequently. This can happen if an elderly person is paralyzed, frail, or immobile due to other reasons.

Bedridden patients need constant care. This is why, in nursing homes, there is a standard to ensure that these patients are turned every few hours so that pressure is relieved from the areas where bed sores commonly form.
Bed sores do not just happen overnight but are instead progressive. In their early stages, you might notice redness or swelling, which then develops into open sores. When a bed sore becomes much more advanced, in cases of severe nursing home neglect, it can expose the bones and muscles underneath the skin and the victim could receive a serious infection, which can quickly become a life-threatening scenario.

What Types of Nursing Home Neglect Lead to the Development of Bed Sores?

Bed sores in nursing homes are entirely preventable and should never happen to our loved ones. There are many reasons why these neglectful injuries show up on loved ones who are not receiving the best care:

• Leaving a patient in the same position for an extended period of time
• Allowing a resident to lay on a wet bed sheet that has not been changed
• Failing to provide a resident with proper nutrition
• Failing to check a resident for bed sores if they are immobile
• Noticing bed sores but failing to help the resident obtain the medical care they need
• Failing to notify family when bed sores are discovered

In many cases, a nursing home that is neglecting the care of a loved one might not notify family members out of fear that legal action will be taken or because they are outright medically neglecting a loved one and have not noticed the sores. Sometimes, these negligent acts take place because a nursing home is understaffed or not qualified to take care of all of its residents. No matter what the case, your loved one could suffer serious illness at the hands of a neglectful party if actions are not taken – and quickly.

“Words cannot express how tremendously grateful I am to Jeff Zenna for his sincere compassion and legal assistance during one of the most challenging times in my life.”

– Sophia P. /Client

“I just wanted to take some time to thank you and your team for all your help in the last 3 1/2 years. Your confidence, professionalism, knowledge, and efficiency in resolving this case have been greatly appreciated by my family and I. ”

– Michael Flynn /Client

“You exhibited a genuine caring for my predicament and the outcome. These are all qualities that are prized in any professional relationship.”

– V /Client

How a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Can Help

At Blume Forte Fried Zerres & Molinari, our experienced attorneys want you to understand that your loved one has rights such as the right to receive proper care from a healthcare facility. Nursing home staff have a legal duty of care to ensure the best care for your loved one, especially in high-risk scenarios such as an immobile or frail loved one who is unable to care for themselves or alert staff to a growing issue. If your loved one has suffered neglect at the hands of a negligent nursing home, it is time to take action against a party and work toward the compensation your loved one deserves. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us by filling out this brief online contact form for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bed Sores and Pressure Ulcers