DECUBITUS ULCERS 

Decubitus ulcers are also known as pressure ulcers or bedsores, and occur far too frequently.   A decubitus ulcer is defined as a localized injury to the skin and underlying tissue that usually occurs on bony parts of the body where pressure has been applied for a period of time.  The most common areas where decubitus ulcers occur are the tail bone, buttocks, back of heels, elbows and shoulder blades.  Depending on how the patient is positioned they may also occur on the ear, pelvis, hip, knee and ankles. 

The CDC released an article which found that 159,000 nursing home residents, or approximately 11%, were suffering from decubitus ulcers.  Decubitus ulcers are defined by stages, and the CDC found that the most common stage suffered by the residents were Stage II.  In this stage the ulcer may expand into deeper layers of the skin, and may appear as a shallow crater.  The skin may begin to die or become damaged beyond repair in this stage.  (For a more in depth look at the four stages of decubitus ulcers, please see the Nursing Home page on our website.)  

Decubitus ulcers may not only be painful, but they could be fatal.  Because the wound is open, the risk of infection is high.   If bacteria spread throughout the body via the bloodstream, which is known as sepsis, this could pave the way for potentially fatal complications. 

These claims are complicated and challenging, and you need a knowledgeable and experienced lawyer to evaluate your claim.  We have seen the pain caused by this form of nursing home neglect and are prepared to answer your questions.  So if you or a family member is suffering pain from decubitus ulcers or has died from infection related to decubitus ulcers contact either Attorney Douglas V. Stoehr or Attorney Aaron Ling.  Please contact us at (814) 946-4100, or see us on our website at www.stoehrlaw.com.  

NURSING HOME NEGLECT MAY RISE DUE TO 

PENNSYLVANIA’S AGING POPULATION 

The population of Pennsylvania is aging, we are currently ranked 4th in the U.S. by percentage of population of residents age 65 and older.  This translates into almost 2,000,000 Pennsylvania residents that are 65 and older.  Pennsylvania has approximately 710 nursing homes which houses, on average, 81,000 Pennsylvania residents.  This number is only going to rise, and by 2020, Pennsylvania’s 60 and older population is expected to balloon to more than 3,000,000 people, or 25% of the total population.

With the demand for nursing home care so high and only rising, these facilities are currently understaffed, and the employees are poorly trained.  These two factors are a perfect recipe for disaster because the residents depend on the staff for the most basic requirements of life like food, water, medicine, and personal hygiene.  If a nursing home fails to provide appropriate treatment to maintain the resident’s health to the best of its ability, the facility may be negligent.  Nursing home negligence may take many forms, but the most common include: (1) failure to prevent malnutrition or dehydration; (2) failure to assist with personal hygiene, including providing adequate services for incontinent residents; and (3) failure to prevent and/or treat bedsores.

In fact, two of our most recent nursing home cases have involved bedsores, otherwise known as pressure sores, or decubitus ulcers.  In both cases the nursing home failed to properly prevent and treat the bedsores and they became infected.

Because nursing home litigation can be quite complicated you need to have an attorney with the experience and knowledge to handle these claims.  If you or someone you know has been the victim of nursing home negligence please allow Attorney Douglas V. Stoehr and Attorney Aaron Ling to evaluate your claim today to determine if you have a case against a nursing home.  Please give us a call at (814) 946-4100.