Sweeney Julian
Sweeney Julian

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Signs of nursing home abuse to watch out for in Indiana

On Behalf of | Oct 8, 2020 | Personal Injury |

One of the most frequent signs of nursing home neglect is bedsores. If they’re not treated, they can quickly become severe and lead to serious complications. The most severe type of bedsore is a stage 4 bedsore, which involves decaying tissue and can lead to infection, septic shock and death.

What is a stage 4 bedsore?

A stage 4 bedsore develops if a bedsore is left untreated due to nursing home abuse. The symptoms of a stage 4 bedsore can include hot and reddened skin, decaying tissue, fever, swelling, blackened skin, drainage, and a foul odor. If the case is severe enough, the tissue can decay all the way down to the bone, leaving the patient’s bone and tissue exposed.

If not treated, a stage 4 bedsore quickly leads to infection. A patient may suffer from sepsis, septic shock, renal failure or even death. To treat the sore, a doctor may remove the infected and damaged tissue, graft healthy skin over the area, and give the patient antibiotics to help him or her fight off the infection.

Bedsores are common in nursing homes where the employees leave their patients in beds and wheelchairs for hours, or even days, at a time. Due to their advanced age, patients may have difficulty healing from their infections.

What should people do when nursing home abuse is occurring?

If someone feels that his or her loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse, he or she can call an attorney for legal guidance. A lawyer may have experience with various cases of nursing home abuse, including neglect, physical abuse, starvation and untimely death. An attorney may help his or her client gather evidence against the facility and bring the case to court, so he or she can receive fair compensation for his or her damages.