Nursing Home Bedsores NJ

New Jersey Nursing Home Bedsore Attorneys

Strong advocacy for victims of nursing home neglect in Edison, Toms River, and Red Bank

Seniors and their families have the right to expect that nursing homes will provide competent care. Every nursing home should anticipate that their residents may develop bedsores. It’s a common problem. The nursing home that cares for your loved one should regularly check for bedsores and should respond quickly when the signs and symptoms are visible. Bedsores can only occur when an immobile patient is not re-positioned on a regular basis.

If your loved one has suffered a bedsore injury while in nursing home care, you may have a case of negligence against the nursing home. At the law firm of Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP, we are a team of leading New Jersey personal injury trial attorneys with a strong record of recovering significant monetary damages for people harmed by nursing home neglect and other types of negligence. We offer a free consultation to evaluate your case. With offices in Edison, Red Bank, and Toms River, our lawyers advise and represent nursing home residents and their families throughout New Jersey.

How can we help?

What are bedsores?

According to Seniors Mobility, bed sores – also called “pressure sores” or “pressure ulcers” – are “injuries to the skin and underlying tissue caused by prolonged pressure on the area.” If they are identified early enough, there are fairly routine treatments. Bedsores form when:

Certain areas of skin are exposed to constant pressure for up to 2 or 3 hours, causing the blood vessels that provide the skin with oxygen and nutrients to be cut off. This causes the tissue to die, leading to bed sores. The longer the wound goes without treatment, the worst the symptoms can get. Pressure sores can become infected and spread to the bone and muscle.

Bedsores can take a long time to heal (days, months, or years) depending on the severity of the bedsore and the patient’s overall health. Many seniors also have diabetes, heart disease, or other problems that make them more prone to developing bedsores.

In addition to being stationary for too long, other causes of pressure ulcers include excess urine moisture and sliding down the bed which can damage tissue.

What duty of care do NJ nursing homes owe residents to prevent bedsores?

Nursing homes in New Jersey are required to meet a standard of care regarding the health of residents. For an immobile resident, that standard of care includes changing the person’s position every two hours or more often to prevent bedsores (also known as pressure sores or decubitus ulcers). Residents in wheelchairs and chairs should be moved regularly – in addition to moving patients in their beds.

Bedsores are a serious injury that can lead to sepsis, cellulitis, and other conditions that can result in death. If your loved one has developed a bedsore following admission to a nursing home, our lawyers will investigate and consult appropriate experts to build a strong case of nursing home negligence. Our lawyers are recognized among the leading medical malpractice attorneys in New Jersey, with a case record of successful settlements and verdicts exceeding $550 million on behalf of plaintiffs.

What are the signs and symptoms of bedsores in New Jersey?

Some of the signs of pressure sores include swelling, changes in the texture or color of the skin, tender skin, pus-like draining, and cool or warm skin when touched. Bedsores generally form on   nursing home residents’ backs and sides of their knees, backs and sides of their head, elbows, shoulder, heel, and buttocks.

The four stages of bed sores, according to Seniors Mobility, are:

  • Stage 1. Pressure sores change colors, are warm to the touch, and may itch or burn.
  • Stage 2. The bedsores cause more pain and damage. The wound may look like a cut or blister.
  • State 3. The wound becomes a deeper blue. The wound may look like a crater. Stage 3 bedsores require medical care.
  • Stage 4. These sores should be treated by doctors. The bedsores transform “into a large, deep wound, and bones, muscles, and tendons may be visible at the bottom of the sore.”

Generally, elderly residents who can move themselves don’t develop bedsores. It’s the patients who have difficulty moving, getting up, or repositioning themselves that should be repositioned regularly.

What are the treatments for bedsores?

According to the Mayo Clinic, treating bedsores involves “reducing pressure on the affected skin, caring for wounds, controlling pain, preventing infection, and maintaining good nutrition.” The care team may include a primary care doctor, a doctor or nurse who specializes in wound care, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, dermatologists, and dieticians.

Different types of surgeons including neurosurgeons, vascular surgeons, plastic surgeons, and orthopedic surgeons may need to participate in the treatment program, proper use of support surfaces, cleaning and dressing the wound, removing damaged tissue, medications, and surgery.

Nursing home residents who suffer neglect that causes bedsores may need psychological care and support to manage any social isolation, pain, or depression.

What damages are available in an NJ pressure ulcer injury claim?

Seniors deserve to enjoy the rest of their lives with family and friends. They deserve all the activities that interest them. They don’t deserve to be in pain because the nursing home failed to conduct routine inspections. Our New Jersey pressure ulcer lawyers demand compensation for the senior’s current and future life including:

  • Medical expenses including the care from all the healthcare providers we discussed in the treatment section
  • Their physical pain and emotional suffering
  • Loss of life’s pleasures
  • Any loss of functionality

In egregious cases, such as when a resident’s bedsores reach stage 4 before any treatment is started, we also seek punitive damages.

Do you have a nursing home bedsore lawyer near me?

Our New Jersey nursing home lawyers meet clients at our offices located in:

  • Edison, NJ at 40 Ethel Road and
  • Toms River, NJ at 563 Lakehurst Road

We meet clients who have pressure ulcers or bedsores at the nursing home or any other convenient location such as a relative’s home.

Our lawyers understand how traumatic it is for a senior to focus on his or her pain instead of enjoying life. We also understand some residents may have dementia and other cognitive disorders that may make bedsores even more complicated to treat. We can answer all the questions seniors, their guardians, and their families have. We’ll guide everyone involved through the claims process.

Contact our Experienced New Jersey nursing home bedsore lawyers today

Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP offers a free initial consultation to evaluate your loved one’s bedsore case. We understand the unique challenges involved with filing nursing home claims. We are skilled at representing seniors who have other health disorders in addition to pressure ulcers. Call us or contact us to schedule a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey nursing home negligence lawyer. Serving Red Bank, Toms River, Edison, and all of New Jersey.