Bed Sores A Problem in US Nursing Homes, Says the National Center for Health Statistics
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more than 1 in 10 US nursing home residents in 2004 was suffering from pressure sores. In the NCHS Data brief, published in February 2009, information from the National Nursing Home Survey regarding 2004 is provided, including:
• Approximately 159,000 nursing home residents in the US had bed sores.
• The post common kind of pressure sore was the Stage 2 pressure ulcer.
• Nursing home residents ages 64 and younger were more likely to suffer from pressure sores than older nursing home residents.
• Nursing home patients that stayed in US nursing homes for less than a year were more prone to decubitus ulcers than longer-term residents.
• Out of every five nursing home residents that had recently lost weight, one of the patients would have pressure sores.
Pressure Sores
Also known as pressure ulcers, decubitus ulcers, and bed sores, these wounds can occur when there is pressure on the skin that doesn’t get relieved. Common sites of pressure sores on the body include the heel, elbow, back, hip, back of the head, and shoulder.
There are four stages of pressure sores:
Stage 1: Skin that is persistently red in color.
Stage 2: Some of the skin’s thickness is lost. A blister, abrasion, or slight crater may appear on the skin.
Stage 3: The appearance of a deep crater shows a loss of the skin’s full thickness.
Stage 4: Bone or muscle is exposed through the sore.
Bed sores can be a dangerous wound for sick or elderly nursing home patients. The sores can be treated if they are detected right away but delayed treatment can lead to the decubitus ulcer reaching a more advanced stage.
Common ways to prevent bed sores include:
• Using clean, dry sheets
• A nutritious diet
• Softly padded wheelchairs
• Making sure the skin is dry and clean
• Regularly turning patients that can’t move and changing their position
If your loved one has bed sores because workers at a Chicago nursing home neglected to provide him or her with the proper care, there may be grounds to file an Illinois nursing home neglect lawsuit.
Pressure Ulcers Among Nursing Home Residents: United States, 2004, NCHS Data Brief, February 14, 2009
What are Bed Sores?, Mama's Health
Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Steve Malman would like to offer you a free case evaluation. Contact the Law Offices of Steven J Malman & Associates, PC today.
