Bed sores are one of the most common signs of nursing home abuse and neglect. Also known as “pressure ulcers,” bed sores are serious flesh wounds that tend to develop on bony areas of the body, like heels, hips, shoulders, backs, and the backs of heads. When they do develop, bed sores are typically marked by redness, blistering, and abrasions. In the most extreme cases, bed sores can result in:

• Gaping open wounds, exposing underlying muscle and bone
• Severe infection, including sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection
• Painful complications and death, without the proper interventions

At least 1 in 10 nursing home residents develops bed sores during their stay, according to the latest reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At least half of these cases involve bed sores that have advanced to Stage 2 or beyond. 

With bed sores at any stage, however, nursing home abuse or neglect is often involved. That’s because failing to move and reposition residents can contribute to bed sores — and: 

• Neglect can mean nursing home residents don’t get the basic care and repositioning they need to avoid developing bed sores.
• Staff may not have the proper training to recognize or promptly treat bed sores.
• Nursing home facilities may understaff facilities, meaning there are enough employees to check on and move patients as often as needed.

Bed Sore Lawyer Jack Modesett has successfully resolved thousands of these cases, including some involving Stage IV bedsores, sepsis, and death, as well as nursing homes lying about residents’ injuries and actively trying to cover them up. Jack has been able to secure justice time and again in cases like these, diligently holding nursing homes accountable for the hurt and deaths they cause.