Placing a loved one in a nursing home is not an easy decision. We need to trust the facility’s commitment to providing quality care and hope that our loved ones will spend their days in comfort and dignity. However, this trust is sometimes breached. Nursing home neglect and abuse can cause serious and potentially fatal health problems, including bedsores.
These painful injuries, often preventable, can be clear indicators of neglect and inadequate care—and if your loved one developed bedsores, Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC can help. Our Kentucky bedsore attorney specializes in holding nursing homes accountable for their actions and seeking justice for those harmed under their care. In these situations, trust us to be your ally in recovering the compensation that your loved one deserves.
Kentucky Bedsore Resources
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Why Select Our Lawyer?
What Are Bedsores & What Causes Them?
Bedsores Shouldn’t Occur in a Nursing Home
Benefits of Hiring a Kentucky Bedsore Lawyer
Steps to Follow if a Loved One Suffers Bedsores
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Why Select Our Kentucky Bedsore Lawyer?
- Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC specializes in litigation against nursing homes, including cases involving bedsores. With over 20 years of experience fighting for victims, we will advocate for your right to financial recovery.
- With thousands of clients served nationwide, our Kentucky nursing home abuse attorney holds the expertise, knowledge, and resources that you need to hold negligent caregivers accountable. We will work tirelessly to craft a compelling case in your favor.
- Bedsores can lead to significant financial hardship for victims and their families. That is why we offer our services on a contingency fee basis; if we do not recover a settlement in your case, you will not be charged legal fees.
What Are Bedsores & What Causes Them?
Bedsores, also referred to as pressure ulcers, are injuries that can occur in people who are bedridden or immobile for long periods. These sores are most likely to develop in areas where the body has less fat or muscle to cushion bones from pressing against the skin, such as the spine, tailbone, shoulder blades, hips, heels, and elbows. Bedsores primarily occur due to sustained pressure on these areas, which restricts blood flow and leads to tissue damage.
Medical professionals classify bedsores into different stages based on their severity:
- Stage 1 bedsores are characterized by a darkened patch of skin that may be tender and painful.
- Without proper care, these bedsores can progress to Stage 2. Here, the skin breaks open, forming a fluid-filled or ruptured blister.
- Stage 3 bedsores present as a deep, crater-like wound exposing fat and dead tissue, often with additional tissue damage beneath the primary injury.
- The most severe bedsores are in Stage 4, which involves extensive damage revealing muscle, bone, or tendons, with the injury extending beyond the primary site.
Complications from untreated bedsores can be very severe, leading to infections such as sepsis and permanent nerve or tissue damage. This is why prompt treatment is essential; early-stage bedsores usually require wound cleaning, dressing, and pain relief. However, advanced stages may require antibiotics, tissue removal, and reconstructive surgery.
Bedsores Should Not Occur in a Nursing Home
In nursing homes, many residents are at an increased risk of bedsores due to age, disability, and medical conditions like dementia. As a result, caregivers are trained to understand the risk of bedsores and are expected to implement preventative measures for at-risk residents. This includes regular repositioning, ensuring proper nutrition and hygiene, and monitoring residents for early signs of pressure ulcers.
Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services require nursing homes to prevent the development of bedsores in residents, except in cases where their clinical condition makes them unavoidable. Furthermore, residents who develop bedsores must receive appropriate care to promote healing, prevent infection, and avoid new sores.
Due to these measures and requirements, bedsores are often a sign of neglect in a nursing home, especially in cases that involve advanced-stage pressure ulcers. These indicate that the caregivers are not taking the appropriate steps to prevent, monitor for, and treat these injuries. In these situations, residents and their families may have legal grounds for a lawsuit against the nursing home.
Benefits of Hiring a Kentucky Bedsore Lawyer
If you or a loved one develop bedsores at a nursing home, your family deserves justice—and a lawsuit can provide compensation to help recover from these painful sores. However, pursuing a case against a nursing home can be daunting. These institutions often have access to extensive resources, including experienced legal counsel. To effectively counter this, you need a Kentucky bedsore lawyer on your side.
At Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC, our attorney understands the nuances and the steps involved in nursing home neglect lawsuits. We will conduct an in-depth investigation to determine whether the neglect was due to negligence or intentional acts and demonstrate the direct link between this breach and the harm suffered by the resident.
Our firm will gather the evidence necessary to prove that the facility failed in its duty of care, handle communications with the nursing home’s legal team, and connect you with medical experts who can testify on your loved one’s behalf. We will take care of all the legal aspects so that your family can focus on healing and recovery.
Your attorney will also be knowledgeable about relevant laws and regulations governing nursing homes and standards of care, including the Nursing Home Reform Act (NHRA), the Older Americans Act (OAA), and state-level laws such as those enforced by Kentucky Adult Protective Services (APS). With your lawyer’s expertise, you can navigate the complexities of these regulations to build a strong case.
Steps to Follow if a Loved One Receives Bedsores at a Nursing Home
If your loved one develops bedsores in a nursing home, immediate action is crucial. By following these steps, you can ensure that your loved one receives the necessary medical care and that their legal rights are protected:
- Seek immediate medical attention for your loved one. In cases of severe abuse, call 911.
- Report the incident to Kentucky Adult Protective Services.
- Document the condition by gathering medical records, taking photographs of the bedsores, and collecting statements from witnesses or other residents.
- Consult with a specialized attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you initiate legal proceedings, the better the chances of compiling comprehensive evidence.
Call Our Kentucky Bedsore Attorney Today
If you or a family member has suffered from bedsores due to negligence or improper care, Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC can stand by your side. Our Kentucky bedsore attorney brings a wealth of experience and a personalized approach to each case, striving to achieve justice for you or your loved one.
Let Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC help you fight for the compensation and care you deserve. Contact us today at (800) 220-0984 for a free, confidential consultation.