$275,000 Nursing Home Abuse Settlement for Fatal Bedsore Neglect
Settlement After Nursing Home Neglect Contributed to Death
On behalf of his four children, a lawsuit was filed alleging that their father’s death was due in part to substandard care at his nursing facility and a pattern of neglect. When residents in long-term care facilities are left in bed for too long without being moved or turned, a bedsore, also known as a pressure ulcer, may develop.
Although pressure ulcers may be treatable when caught and addressed early, this wound was allowed to grow very large. Without proper treatment, the severe bedsore became a contributing factor in this man’s death. After extensive negotiations with the attorneys and insurance company for the nursing home, Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC secured a settlement in excess of $275,000 for the benefit of his children.
Pressure Ulcers and Nursing Home Neglect
Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores or pressure sores, are areas of damaged skin that can develop when a person remains in one position for too long. MedlinePlus explains that these wounds commonly form where bones are close to the skin, including the ankles, back, elbows, heels, and hips. Residents who are bedridden, use wheelchairs, or cannot change position without help may face increased risk.
Not every pressure ulcer means a nursing home was negligent. Some residents have medical conditions that make skin breakdown more likely. However, nursing homes must still assess risk, follow care plans, reposition residents when needed, monitor the skin, keep residents clean and dry, address nutrition and hydration concerns, and respond promptly when early signs of a wound appear.
When a facility ignores warning signs, fails to turn or reposition a resident, delays wound care, or allows a pressure ulcer to worsen without appropriate treatment, the case may involve nursing home abuse or neglect.
Illinois Nursing Home Responsibility
The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act provides that the owner and licensee of a facility may be liable to a resident for intentional or negligent acts or omissions by their agents or employees that injure the resident. In a serious neglect case, the legal analysis often focuses on what the facility knew, what care plan was required, what staff actually did, and whether preventable harm occurred.
Pressure-ulcer cases may require review of wound records, turning and repositioning logs, care plans, staffing records, nutrition records, hospital records, photographs, infection records, physician orders, and communications with the family. When the resident dies, the case may also involve a wrongful death claim.
Common Causes of Bedsores
Bedsores typically do not affect people who move freely and do not spend long periods in bed or seated in one position. They more often affect older adults or people who, because of illness, paralysis, frailty, coma, surgery recovery, dementia, or disability, cannot move without assistance.
Residents with spinal cord injuries or other conditions that reduce sensation may also face increased risk because they may not feel pain or discomfort while the wound is developing. Common contributing factors may include:
- Pressure: Continuous pressure on bony areas can reduce blood flow and damage skin and underlying tissue.
- Friction: Skin may be injured when it rubs against sheets, clothing, bedding, or equipment.
- Shear: Shear can occur when skin stays in place while underlying tissue moves, such as when a resident slides down in bed.
- Moisture: Sweat, urine, stool, or poor hygiene may weaken skin and increase the risk of breakdown.
- Poor nutrition or hydration: Residents may be less able to heal or protect their skin when nutrition and fluid intake are not properly addressed.
Preventive Measures in Long-Term Care Facilities
When a loved one lives in a nursing home, hospital, rehabilitation center, or other long-term care facility, staff should take reasonable steps to reduce pressure-ulcer risk. Depending on the resident’s condition, preventive care may include:
- Regular turning, repositioning, or pressure relief as required by the resident’s care plan
- Use of pressure-relieving mattresses, cushions, heel protectors, or positioning devices
- Routine skin checks, especially near the tailbone, heels, hips, elbows, ankles, and back
- Keeping the skin clean and dry with gentle cleansing and prompt hygiene care
- Reducing friction and shear when moving or transferring the resident
- Monitoring nutrition, hydration, weight loss, and medical conditions that affect healing
- Prompt wound-care referral and treatment when redness, drainage, infection, or skin breakdown appears
Warning Signs of Pressure Ulcers
Families visiting a loved one in a nursing home should pay attention to visible changes, odor, pain complaints, wound dressings, and explanations that do not make sense. Warning signs may include:
- Drainage of fluid or pus
- Swelling, redness, warmth, or tenderness
- Changes in skin color or texture that do not improve after pressure is removed
- Skin that feels warmer or colder than surrounding skin
- Open wounds, deep ulcers, blackened tissue, or foul odor
- Repeated infections, fever, weakness, or sudden decline
- Staff members who avoid questions or cannot explain how the wound developed
Legal Help After Fatal Nursing Home Neglect
Pressure ulcers can become life-threatening when a nursing home fails to prevent, recognize, monitor, or treat them properly. A serious wound may lead to infection, hospitalization, surgery, sepsis, amputation, or death. Families deserve clear answers when a loved one develops a severe bedsore in a facility responsible for daily care.
Since 1990, Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC has represented injured residents and families in Chicago and throughout Illinois. If you believe nursing home neglect caused a loved one’s bedsore, infection, decline, or death, call 312-243-9922 or contact us for a free case evaluation.
