Most people associate bedsores with advanced age. Older adults have compromised immune systems and often become less active due to their age. The more time they spend in their favorite chair or in bed, the greater their risk of developing a bedsore or pressure ulcer.
Bedsores in their early stages are painful and irritating. Once the bedsore damages the skin or the tissue underneath, the older adult with the injury is at increased risk of infection and other medical consequences.
Are bedsores ever the cause of death for older adults?
Bedsores are a common cause of death
Many people do not give bedsores the consideration they deserve, especially given the risk they pose to an older adult. People are frequently dismissive about bedsores. They assume that they are painful and inconvenient but ultimately treatable and therefore not a major medical concern.
Contrary to what people believe, bedsores are actually one of the top causes of preventable mortality in older adults. A nationwide analysis of bedsore complications indicates that an average of 60,000 older adults every year die due to infections and other complications related to bedsores.
Nursing home workers should be fastidious about documenting the development of bedsores and intervening for the well-being of older adults once bedsores begin developing. If they fail to take appropriate actions, they may cause an older adult’s premature death.
Reviewing the medical records of a loved one and related documentation from a nursing home with a skilled legal team can help families explore their options. When bedsores lead to hospitalization or death, there may be grounds to take legal action against a nursing home for failing to protect an older adult from a known medical risk.