California Elder Law Attorney Blog

Appropriate documentation should always be performed on admission to nursing homes and all long term care medical facilities. This shall prevent clinicians from being held responsible for something that certainly could not have developed within that nursing home and / or hospital stay if the symptom had been documented as "present on admission."

For example, a patient with the stage 3 decubitus ulcer, also known as a pressure sore and bed sore noted on the third day in the facility obviously did not develop that condition during that admission, but if this is not documented on the intake, it could cause litigation that might have been avoided.

Continue reading "Appropriate Documentation In Hospitals and Long Term Care Facilities May Determine Ultimate Legal Responsibility says California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer Steven Peck" »

If the skin is intact or appears red on a person whose skin color is lighter, then the person's condition falls under stage I of pressure ulcers. Some other characteristics of the skin are that it does not lighten for a short period of time when it is touched and the site on the skin may feel painful, firm, soft and either warmer or cooler when compared to the skin that surrounds the site.

If the pressure ulcer is an open wound, then it is considered to be in stage II. In this stage both the upper layer of the skin and a part of the underlying layer are either damaged or even lost. The wound itself will look like a shallow and basin-like wound, red in color. In some cases it may look like a blister.

If the decubitus ulcer, pressure sore or bed sore has become a deep wound and looks like a crater, then it is already in stage III. The loss of skin is present and even some fat is visible. It is common for the bottom of the ulcer to have some dead tissue of yellow color. At this stage it is not only the healthy layers of the skin that are damaged.

Stage IV is the final and most severe stage of pressure ulcers and bed sores. The wound on the skin will show muscle, bones and tendons and the bottom of it will usually contain slough which is dark in color. Multiple layers of skin are damaged in the final stage.

Every person whose movement is limited needs to make sure to inspect the skin almost daily as a part of routine nursing or home care. At the first signs of pressure ulcers the patients need to contact the doctor because there are a lot more chances of success if the condition is treated in the early stages. If a person experiences a fever or drainage or foul odor from the wound, he or she should immediately contact the doctor and be very concerned about deadly infection.

Continue reading "The Different Stages of Decubitus Ulcers also known as Pressure Sores and Bed Sores" »

The best preventative measures for bed sores are to use positioning techniques, clean linens, and repositioning. Positioning techniques include using pillows or rolled towels under the bony prominences for cushioning. Clean linens will prevent traction sores as well as prevent moisture that can compromise their skin integrity. Lastly, bed-bound or wheelchair- bound patients should be repositioned at least every 2 hours. Repositioning a patient allows blood flow to return to areas that may have been previously cut off. Air mattresses, especially those which automatically partially inflate and deflate on a timer, can keep patients who are unable to move from developing pressure sores.

Prevention is the key for bed sores, but if one does develop, there are a few ways to help the patient heal their wound. A well-balanced diet helps heal existing wounds and prevent new ones. A diet high in protein will benefit those at risk for decubitus ulcers. Also, Vitamin C and Zinc also aid the body in repairing damaged skin cells. Other vitamins that aid in skin renewal are Vitamin A and B-Complexes, as well as Vitamin E. If incorporating these into the diet of the individual is hard or impossible, supplements may be used.

Continue reading "Prevention Is the Key To Halt the Development of Bed Sores, Pressure Sores also known as Decubitus Ulcers" »

About 11,000 people suffer spinal cord injuries every year in the USA, and more than 250,000 people are living with this type of injury.

More than one-third of people with spinal cord injuries develop bed sores, also known as pressure sores, pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers. Complications from such bed sores kill 60,000 Americans a year. That's twice the number who die from prostate cancer. About 8% of those with spinal cord injuries die from bed sores and pressure sores.

They can be caused by friction, when a paralyzed person slides down in bed, or when the body presses on a vulnerable area and cuts off the blood supply. Tissue can die within hours. If bacteria from infected bed sores spread to the blood, patients can develop an infection called sepsis, which can be fatal says California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer Steven Peck.

Continue reading "People With Spinal Cord Personal Injury Can Easily Develop and Die From Infected Bed Sores, Pressure Ulcers also known as Decubitus Ulcers" »

Pressure ulcers -- better known as bedsores and decubitus ulcers -- are lesions on the skin that are caused by unrelieved pressure resulting in tissue damage. They usually develop over bony areas of the body, often in the lower limbs (ankles and hips are common), but they can occur almost anywhere (for example, in the nostrils of patients with feeding tubes, in the corners of the mouth in patients with endotracheal tubes, and between fingers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis).

Pressure ulcers are quite common in hospitals and other institutional settings. In acute care hospitals they occur in about 3-15 percent of patients; they occur in about a third of elderly patients who have had hip fractures; and the number rises to as much as 50 percent in critical care patients. Ten to 35 percent of patients admitted to nursing homes have pressure ulcers, though this rate decreases somewhat for patients who have been there longer. Because there are other reasons for skin breakdown, it is important to be examined and diagnosed by a doctor so that the appropriate treatment can be determined.

Continue reading "Pressure Ulcers, Bed Sores also known as Decubitus Ulcers Are Caused By Unrelieved Pressure" »

•7.6-11% of people 60+ at home are victims of elder abuse, neglect or exploitation.
•47% of people with dementia at home are abused or neglected by their caregivers.
•For every one case of elder abuse that comes to light, 23.5 do not.
•50-90% of nursing homes are understaffed at levels that harm residents.
"Elder abuse includes abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. It occurs in homes and facilities; cuts across all demographic groups; and causes untold suffering and cost, not just for its victims, but also for those who care about and for them. Victims often live their last years--impoverished, injured, neglected and in fear--with little effective assistance, protection or attention from any system.

Victims of elder abuse suffer more injuries and illnesses and are three times more likely to die sooner than non-victims. In addition to depleting the resources of already stressed individuals and families, elder abuse costs taxpayers billions of dollars annually in Medicare, Medicaid and other federal, state and local program expenditures.

"We are at the early stage of a hidden epidemic. As 77 million baby boomers age and caregiving shortages grow more acute, the problem will grow. Wealth and fame do not provide immunity, as the plight of Mickey Rooney and Brooke Astor show. A 2011 General Accountability Office (GAO) report documents the need for more funding and federal leadership. Yet, our response to elder abuse lags 40 years behind child abuse and 20 years behind domestic violence." says California Elder Abuse Lawyer Steven C. Peck.

Continue reading "Elder Abuse Victims Are Three Times More Likely To Die Sooner Than Non-Victims" »