Bedsore Attorneys – Factors Leading to Increased Risk

Bedsore lawyers say that there are many factors that could lead to pressure sores and people need to be aware of these issues. Limited mobility is the number one factor that increases the risk of suffering from bedsores. When people are restricted to a wheelchair or bed, it is difficult for them to change positions easily. The sustained pressure on the skin and underlying tissue creates a great risk of bedsores.

Age, Weight Loss, and Lack of Sensory Perception Among other Important Factors

new jersey philadelphia Bedsore lawyers warn factors leading increased riskAs people age, their skin becomes thinner, less elastic, and much more fragile than their younger days. The skin will also seem to be much drier in people of increased age, making it difficult for skin to heal. It takes significantly longer for new skin cells to generate which is another reason that people who are older are more susceptible to skin damage.

People who have suffered from an illness for a long period of time tend to lose significant amounts of weight. With this weight loss, people will see their body’s muscle and fat begin to diminish. This leads to less cushioning between the bones and hard outer surfaces (such as a bed or wheelchair).

People who have lack sensory perception have difficulty feeling pain and discomfort. Since these people are not aware of their discomfort, they may not quickly recognize the development of skin damage and bedsores. This could lead to significant damage to the skin and the underlying tissue, as people do not realize the need to switch positions.

Bedsore Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one has acquired a bedsore while in a nursing home or has had negligent treatment of a bedsore or pressure ulcer, immediately seek further medical attention and contact a bedsore lawyer. Our professionals are dedicated to holding nursing homes responsible for negligent and careless treatment. Please contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, and (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Attorneys Warn of Complications Associated with Bed Sores

new jersey philadelphia Bed Sore lawyers warn complications associatedBed sores are a debilitating and completely avoidable occurrence in a nursing home or other similar care facility. As bedsore lawyers, it is important that we alert our public of the dangers of bed sores and what their formation means for the quality of care our loved ones are receiving in nursing homes. Bed sores are not only painful, but can lead to serious complications.

Bed sores or pressure ulcers are defined as “injuries to the skin and underlying tissues that result from prolonged pressure on the skin.” Bedsores most often deveolp on skin that covers bony areas of the body such as the heel, ankles, hips or buttocks, and they occur when a patient in a nursing home or long term facility is receiving negligent care. When staff members fail to reposition bed or wheelchair ridden patients, bedsores will form. We believe it is important that we educate everyone on the dangerous complications that can arise from the development and subsequent non-treatment of bed sores and pressure ulcers.

Complications from Bed Sores

Sepsis — Sepsis occurs when bacteria gets into your blood stream through broken skin. Because bed sores are essentially open wounds, Sepsis is a real threat. Once this occurs, the bacteria moves rapidly through your body causing a life threatening condition that can lead to organ failure.

Cellulitis — Cellulitis is an acute infection of your skin’s connective tissue. It causes pain, redness, and swelling, all of which can be quite severe. Cellulitis itself can also lead to life threatening complications including sepsis and meningitis, which is an infection of the membrane and fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord.

Bone and Joint Infections — Bone and joint infections occur when the infection from a bed sore goes deep into your joints and bones, limiting the function of joints and limbs. Often times, people that aquire bed sores already suffer from limited functionality, so these infections make movement all the more difficult.

Cancer — Even Cancer has been linked to bed sores. The devolpment of a certain squamous cell carcinoma can develop from non healing wounds. It is an aggressive cancer and usually requires surgery.

Bed Sore Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you or someone you love has suffered from a bed sore due to the negligence of a nursing home or long term care facility, your nightmare may just be beginning. It is important that treatment begin promptly to not only heal the bedsore, but to hopefully prevent some of the possibly painful and deadly complications that can arise.
Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may alsow call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, and (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Neglect Can Lead to Bed Sores

Nursing home neglect is a huge cause for the development of bed sores and pressure ulcers. Nursing homes and long term patient care centers are responsible for giving good and professional care to their patients. Often, when a nursing home has a record of neglect or abuse, you will find patients that have acquired painful and often dangerous bed sores. It is important for a patient’s loved ones to know the symptoms and signs of bed sores and pressure ulcers so that they can immediately take action when stage one bed sores start to form.
When it comes to bed sores, prevention is the best medicine, but if prevention isn’t happening due to abuse or neglect on the part of the nursing home, a loved one needs to be ready to step in and take action. The best thing you can do to protect your loved one is to become familiar with the bedsore symptoms and stages so immediate help can be given.

Symptoms of Bed Sores and Pressure Ulcers

new jersey philadelphia bedsores pressure sores lawyers nursing home neglectBed sores are categorized into 4 stages. The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel has defined the four stages. If these stages aren’t treated, they will continue to worsen.

Stage I
Stage I bed sores are characterized by a slight may change color in the area affected. The skin is intact, but the site may also painful, firm, soft, warmer or cooler compared with the surrounding skin.

Stage II
Stage II bed sores are an open wound. The pressure ulcer may appear as a shallow wound, or it may appear as an intact or ruptured fluid blister.

Stage III
Stage III bed sores are now a deep wound. The ulcer will have a crater like appearance, the bottom of the wound my have yellowish dead tissue, and the damage may now extend beyond the primary wound.

Stage IV
Stage IV pressure ulcers show a large scale loss of tissue. The wound may now expose muscle, bone and tendons. The bottom of the wound usually contains crusty dead tissue, and the damage extends beyond the primary wound below layers of healthy skin.

Careful Skin Inspection Should be Part of Routine Nursing Home Care

It is very important that nursing homes carfully inspect the skin of all nursing home patients that are confined to a bed or wheelchair for a long period of time . Not properly inspecting these patients is a true sign of nursing home neglect. If you recognize any of these warning signs, a doctor should be contacted immediately. Bed sores are very painful, and they are also very dangerous, as they can lead to life threatening infections. Early detection of a bed sore can be the difference between life and death.

Bedsores are a Sure Sign of Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

If your loved one has acquired a bed sore while in a nursing home, or has had negligent treatment of a bed sore or pressure ulcer, immediately seek further medical attention. Our lawyers are dedicated to holding nursing homes responsible. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, and (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Neglect Very Dangerous to Alzheimer Patients

Nursing home neglect is very serious problems in this country and affect one of the nation’s most vulnerable populations. Within that already vulnerable population are those that are particularly vulnerable. These are the millions of people that suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

nj and pa nursing home neglect attorneysAlzheimer’s is a progressive neurological disorder that eventually leads to dementia. This dementia causes a significant loss of mental capabilities, which in turn causes memory loss that can interfere with social functioning. In 2000, 4.5 million people in the U.S. were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. Of those diagnosed, 7% were between the ages of 65-74, 53% between the ages of 75 and 84, and 40% were 85 or older. Because of the severity of the effects of Alzheimer’s, many sufferers are forced to enter nursing homes to receive the necessary care, so it’s safe to say that a huge portion of residents in nursing homes are Alzheimer’s patients. It is expected that the rate of the disease will grow three-fold by the year 2050, with 13.2 million people being diagnosed.

Because the disease has such a profound affect on mental abilities, those suffering with Alzheimer’s need very specialized and careful care. People with this disease may not remember to eat or drink, or to move around enough to avoid becoming bed or wheelchair ridden. They may be on a number of medications, and end up over or under medicated. These are all issues that, if not properly regulated, can lead to dangerous results. Failure on the part of a nursing home to properly care for these very ill patients can be seen as nursing home neglect. Bedsores become a very real threat when bed ridden patients without the mental properties to care for themselves are not cared for by an attentive and dedicated staff. Bedsores are painful and potentially fatal, and can diminish the quality of life these patients have left.

Will the Rise in Alzheimer’s Lead to More Cases of Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse?

What will the rise of Alzheimer’s Disease diagnoses and the subsequent rise in nursing home patients mean for our loved ones? It is likely that, unless we are all very vigilant, the rise of patients in nursing homes will be accompanied by a rise in nursing home abuse and neglect. Bed sores and pressure ulcers, accidents, malnutrition, and other signs of neglect may become more prevalent. Nursing home neglect attorneys advocate for the proper care of nursing home patients, as should you. Protect your loved ones by visiting often and keeping a close eye on the the care they receive.

Nursing Home Neglect Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you believe your loved one has been abused or neglected in a nursing home, please contact the NJ and PA nursing home neglect attorneys at the Mininno Law Offices. We are dedicated to eradicating the current trends of abuse and neglect found in the nursing homes across the country.

Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, and (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Can Begin With New Hires

Nursing home abuse can begin as early as the hiring process. Not all states require background checks for those applying for jobs in nursing homes, and for that reason, people with criminal convictions do not have a hard time gaining employment at a nursing home or similar care facility. People with a history of assault, criminal negligence, or theft would be high risks as employees in a nursing home.

Overwhelming Frequency of Nursing Home Employees with Criminal Convictions

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers hiring employees criminal convictionAccording to the Department of Health and Human Services, over 90 percent of nursing homes in this country hire employees with criminal convictions, a huge problem in the fight against nursing home neglect. The report looked at the employees of 260 nursing homes employed on June 9, 2009 and found that 92 percent of the facilities had hired at least one employee with a criminal conviction. In fact, nearly half of the nursing homes had 5 or more employees with criminal convictions ranging from burglary to sex offenses. Forty-three states require background checks but only 10 states require both a state and FBI background check. This is necessary to find convictions in multiple states and under different names. New Jersey and Pennsylvania only require the statewide check.

This type of disregard in the hiring process leads to the hiring of inadequate and often dangerous employees in nursing homes across the country. These are often the people that are in charge of the daily needs of one of our most vulnerable populations. Do we expect a sex offender or other convicted criminal left in charge of the care of multiple patients to handle bed sores, accidents and other safety issues properly? Nursing homes are paid a lot of money to care for your loved ones, but they often hire employees that have shown a clear disregard for the rules of society. Bed sores and pressure ulcers, accidents, and other abuses such as restraints, lack of proper nutrition, and over or under-medicating are all issues in many nursing homes. Without a proper background check into possible nursing home hires, we are allowing dangerous people to care for our loved ones.

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

It is important that you are a frequent and attentive visitor in order to protect your loved one from neglect and abuse, especially when the nursing home is hiring convicted criminals and charging them with your loved one’s care. Lawmakers need to pass bills to make the background checks mandatory nationwide so that the vulnerable patients are protected.
If you believe your loved one has suffered neglect or abuse in a nursing home or other long term care facility, please contact the Mininno Law Office for free case evaluation or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Negligence in West Virginia Takes Life

new jersey philadelphia nursing home lawyers HCR Manorcare neglectA woman in West Virginia has filed a lawsuit against the nursing home that she believed killed her family member via nursing home neglect. The suit was filed by Angela Black of West Virgina against HCR Manorcare in Kanawha Circuit Court. The wrongful death suit claims that Rose died after receiving poor care which led to malnutrition, dehydration, untreated bedsores, and infection. While there, Rose suffered mental and physical trauma, and ultimately, death.

Manorcare is a huge network of nursing homes with over 500 facilities in 32 states. The Mininno Law Office has blogged on the poor conditions and negligent care of Manor Care facilities in New Jersey for the past year. Manor Care employs about 60,000 workers nationwide and has been cited for many deficiencies, ranging from small, facility-related violations, to larger, more dangerous, care-related violations.

Negligent Care Leads to Death

Arcel Rose and his loved ones depended on HCR Manor Care to provide adequate, supportive, and attentive care in order to carry on the remainder of his life with as much comfort as possible. Instead, nursing home negligence and abuse took Rose’s life.

Malnutrition, dehydration, and bedsores/pressure ulcers are sure signs that neglect is taking place, and are totally unacceptable in a nursing home facility.

Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently a resident at a nursing home and you fear that the care they are receiving may be considered negligent or abusive, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns regarding your loved one’s future. Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Get Legal Representation: Nursing Home Abuse Still Widespread

Despite continued efforts by nursing home abuse lawyers and various governmental agencies, recent studies have shown that in some northeastern states, as many as one in seven people above the age of sixty have been subject to some form of elder abuse. In some states, as many as over 250,000 senior citizens suffer from incidents of elder abuse in any given year. These statistics are a sobering reminder for anybody who has a loved one currently receiving care in a nursing home facility.

How Do I Know if My Loved One Has Suffered From Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect?

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers neglect still widespreadFirst of, if you have any concerns, consult with an experienced attorney as well as appropriate state agencies. Telltale signs of nursing home abuse are the presence of bed sores, also known as pressure ulcers. Bed sores occur when a nursing home patient is left immobile in one position for too long, causing skin in sensitive areas to loose circulation. This causes tissue damage and eventually kills the skin cells. If caught early and treated properly, bed sores can be easily remedied. However, if neglected, a bed sore can progress past stage two, causing serious health problems for affected nursing home residents.

Another indicator of nursing home abuse is septic shock. Nursing home residents who require regular cleanings but fail to receive them are often susceptible to septic shock. This is a serious infection that is almost always preventable with proper daily cleaning. If you have a loved one who has suffered from septic shock more than once or who has been hospitalized for septic shock, there is a good chance they are not being cared for properly. Take action for those who cannot take action for themselves: Contact an attorney and appropriate state agencies to investigate. Often times abuse is not discovered until it has progressed for some time, but it is never to late to take action.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

The qualified nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers at The Mininno Law Office know how to get results and make a difference in your case. They can get the results your loved one deserves. Contact the Mininno Law Office if you have any questions regarding the health and safety of your loved ones. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Bed Sore Lawyers: Nutrition is Important to Bed Sore Prevention

As New Jersey and Philadelphia bed sore lawyers that are experts in nursing home abuse and neglect cases, it is important for us to remind readers of the dangers of bedsores and how nursing home abuse and neglect can lead to their formation. A patient being given appropriate nursing home care should not be one that acquires bed sores or pressure ulcers. We have already discussed the importance of proper repositioning and skin treatment to help prevent bed sores from forming. Today, we are going to remind everyone how important proper nutrition is to bedsore prevention.

Proper Nutrition Can Help Prevent Bedsores

new jersey philadelphia bed sores attorneys nutrition important preventionIt is much easier to prevent bed sores and pressure ulcers from forming than it is to treat them once they occur. Therefore, it is important for nursing homes and caregivers to be vigilant in their care. One important strategy as this nootropics blog explains, is for nursing homes to make sure their patients are being given the proper nutrition. The patient’s diet should be assessed and changes made, if necessary, to make sure the nursing home is providing the proper nutrition. Based on the patient’s current nutrition needs, it may be necessary to raise the patient’s caloric intake. Having the proper amount of protein, vitamins, and minerals is also imperative. Sometimes, supplements are necessary.

Often, vitamin C and Zinc supplements are necessary. For those patients that are unable to properly feed themselves due to decreased mobility, physical assistance with feeding may also be needed. A plan of proper nutrition should be put in place by the nursing home staff for each individual patient. In many nursing homes with hundreds of beds, this can be overlooked. Improper nutrition being available is itself tantamount to nursing home abuse and neglect, and it can also lead to the acquirement of painful and sometimes deadly bed sores and pressure ulcers. As we always indicate, prevention is the best treatment for bed sores. Nursing homes and loved ones must do what is necessary to prevent the formation of bed sores so that treatment is never necessary!

Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently a resident at a nursing home and you believe the care they are receiving may be considered abusive or negligent, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call with any questions for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Lawyers Promote Skincare As Bedsore Prevention

Studies show that bed sore prevention is easier than bed sore treatment. Therefore, as New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania attorneys specializing in nursing home abuse and neglect cases, of which bed sores are a clear sign, it is important to remind everyone of important tips to prevent them. We have previously discussed the importance of repositioning. Today we are going to focus on another important area that nursing homes must be aware of to help prevent bed sores and/or pressure ulcers from forming. Nursing homes must make sure that they take special care of patients’ skin.

Skincare Supremely Important to Bedsore Prevention

new jersey philadelphia nursing home negligence attorneys skincare bedsore preventionBoth the protection and the monitoring of the patient’s skin is imperative to prevent pressure sores from forming, and to identify their stages early before they have a chance to worsen. One of the important steps nursing homes must be taking is the proper bathing of the skin. Only mild soap and warm water should be used, and he skin should only be gently patted dry. Harsh cleansers are not necessary, nor is harsh rubbing with towels. Talcum Powder should be used on skin that is more likely to retain moisture, and dry skin should be properly moisturized. One of the most important things nursing homes must do is to properly inspect the skin of patients that are most susceptible to acquiring bed sores. These are the patients that are bed ridden or wheel chair bound.

Lastly, those patients that are prone to incontinence must be especially monitored. The nursing home must manage the incontinent patients to prevent moisture and bacterial exposure to the skin. To prevent nursing home abuse and neglect, the caregivers may have to frequently schedule assistance with urination and/or diaper changes. Also, the proper use of catheters or rectal tubes may also be needed. All of these tips should be followed by any nursing home to prevent pressure sores from forming or becoming worse. Proper skin care is one of the tools that should be implemented to prevent bed sores. As we always indicate, it is easier to prevent bed sores than treat them, so prevention is the best medicine!

Nursing Home Negligence Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is a resident at a nursing home or long term care facility and you are worried that the care they are receiving is inadequate or even abusive, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. Even if you simply have questions, you may call at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Let the nursing home abuse lawyers at the Mininno Law Office help you protect your loved one’s quality of life.

Bedsore Prevention and Wheelchair Repositioning

As New Jersey and Philadelphia lawyers specializing in nursing home abuse and neglect cases, it is important to remind everyone of a common form of nursing home abuse and neglect, the occurrence of bed sores. To help prevent the painful and dangerous bed sores from forming, certain things are vital in a nursing home patient’s care. One of the most important factors is the proper positioning of the patient.

Repositioning Wheelchair Bound Patients

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers urge repositioning prevent bedsoresFor those patients that are wheelchair bound, there are certain helpful recommendations for proper repositioning. An attempt should be made, by the patient, to move every 15 minutes. Nursing home staff should help assist with larger changes every hour.

To assist in this process, patients can utilize specialized wheelchairs. These pressure-release chairs tilt to redistribute pressure. This helps provide some assistance in repositioning, and thus give pressure relief to help prevent bed sores. Sometimes, appropriate cushions can be helpful. They are generally gel, water, or air filled. These cushions assist in alleviating pressure and ensuring proper positioning while in the wheelchair.

A wheelchair bound patient in a nursing home should have a set care plan to make sure that proper repositioning takes place. A nursing home physical therapist can advise the patient on proper cushion positioning, and can give lifting and upper body movement exercises to help assist those patients that are able to reposition themselves.

When a wheelchair bound patient isn’t properly and regularly repositioned, bed sores are an almost certain outcome. Bed sores are harder to treat than they are to prevent, so it is imperative that nursing home staff take this movement very seriously. Those that do not are truly showing an abusive and neglectful attitude to their patients.

Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is a resident in a nursing home and you fear that their well-being is in jeopardy due to abusive or negligent care, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. Let the nursing home abuse attorneys at the Mininno Law Office answer any questions you may have regarding your legal rights and your next step.