Billings Bedsore Lawyers

Bedsores in Nursing Homes

Bedsores are often a sign of nursing home abuse or neglect. With proper attention and care, no nursing home resident should develop bedsores—yet many do. If this happened to your loved one, and you believe he or she may be the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, it’s important that you take action right away. Report any suspected abuse to the proper authorities; then, reach out to an experienced nursing home negligence lawyer at our firm who can help you seek compensation on behalf of your elderly loved one.

On This Page

• What Are Bedsores & How Do They Form?
• Warning Signs of Bedsores
• What to Do If Your Elderly Loved One Has Bedsores
• How a Lawyer Can Help

Fighting for Victims of Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect throughout Montana

Contact Edwards & Culver today at (406) 215-4735 to speak with a Montana bedsore attorney or reach us online. We offer free consultations.

What Are Bedsores & How Do They Form?

Also known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers, bedsores are injuries that form on the skin when prolonged pressure to these areas leads to reduced blood flow. They can also be caused by excess friction or “shearing” injuries.

Bedsores range in severity from relatively mild, affecting only the upper layer of skin, to very serious, affecting both layers of skin, as well as underlying tissue. Those with mobility issues, such as seniors confided to wheelchairs or individuals who are bedridden, are at the highest risk of developing bedsores.

Bedsores commonly develop at the following locations on the body:

• The back or sides of the head
• Shoulder blades
• Along the spine
• Hips and lower back
• Back of the arms/legs
• Heels and ankles

Warning Signs of Bedsores

When visiting a loved one in a nursing home, especially if your loved one is unable to move easily on his or her own, check these areas for warning signs, such as:

• Changes in skin color or texture
• Tenderness
• Swelling
• Warmer or cooler areas of skin
• Draining

Left untreated, bedsores can lead to serious complications, including infections of the skin, bones, or joints and sepsis. In some cases, bedsores can even lead to cancer.

What to Do If Your Elderly Loved One Has Bedsores

If you notice that your loved one has developed bedsores while in the care of a long-term assisted living or care facility, do not panic but act quickly. Bedsores can be serious, but they are also treatable. Seek medical attention on behalf of your loved one and, if you believe nursing home staff was negligent in their treatment of your loved one, file an official complaint. In severe cases, such as when there are signs of infection, you may need to seek emergency medical care. Always contact a doctor if bedsores do not show signs of improvement within 24 to 48 hours.

After ensuring your elderly loved one’s immediate safety and well-being, it’s important that you explore your legal options. If the nursing home was negligent, your loved one may be entitled to financial compensation for the cost of medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages. Our firm can help.

How a Bedsore Lawyer Can Help

At Edwards & Culver, we believe that no one should ever have to suffer maltreatment at the hands of trusted caregivers. Our Billings bedsore attorneys represent victims throughout Montana in complex nursing home abuse and negligence claims. We fight tirelessly on behalf of victims and their families, seeking the fair recovery and justice they deserve.

With over 100 years of combined experience, our legal team has what it takes to advocate for you and your loved one. We are dedicated to helping ordinary Montanans who have suffered unjustly as a result of another’s careless or wrongful actions, and we can help you, too.

Request your free consultation with a Montana bedsore lawyer today: (406) 215-4735.