A recent study shows that African American patients have a higher risk of developing bed sores in comparison to their white counterparts. Bed sore attorneys warn that this serious condition has the potential to significantly increase a patient’s cost of care as well as cause potential illness or even death. Bed sores, although very dangerous, can almost always be avoided through proper care and medical attention. Bed sore attorneys believe this disparity may lie in the differences between the nursing homes that house mostly black patients compared to white patients. Data shows that nursing facilities with higher concentrations of African American patients tend to have lower numbers of staff members who are registered nurses and certified nursing assistants.
The Bed Sore Numbers Don’t Lie
The data for this study, which appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association, examined data gathered between 2003 and 2008: 2.1 million white nursing home residents and 346,808 black nursing home residents were studied. Although the overall number of bed sores has decreased in recent years, black patients still consistently maintained higher rates than white patients. White nursing home residents saw their total rate of bed sores decrease from 11.4 percent to around 9.6 percent in 2008. On the other hand, black nursing home residents saw their bed sore rate drop from 16.8 percent in 2003 to 14.6 percent in 2008, still significantly higher than their white counterparts. Bed sore attorneys say that the highest rates of bed sores in recent years come from black residents who live in nursing homes that have the highest concentrations of African American patients. They say that conversely, the lowest rate was among white nursing home patients who resided in homes with few or no black patients. Bed sores are a major problem in our country today and blacks and whites alike need to be aware of the potential danger that they present.
Bed Sore Attorneys of New Jersey and Philadelphia
If your loved one has recently suffered from a bed sore, you may have questions regarding your legal rights for our professionals. In cases where you suspect that neglect or mistreatment played a factor in the development of the bed sore, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation in New Jersey at (856) 833-0600, or in Philadelphia at (215) 567-2380.
McLean and Dirnberger, the plaintiffs, claim that Eldercare’s neglect led to the extreme pain that was inflicted due to the bed sores. Bed sore attorneys also believe that the plaintiffs will argue that the defendants have violated the Illinois’ Nursing Home Care Act because of their failure to properly recognize and treat a man who was so clearly in need of assistance. The complaint also alleges that the defendants failed to properly care for McLean’s sores, also known as decubitus ulcers, which arose on several parts of the man’s body. Professionals say that there may be a claim because it appears that these employees were not properly caring for the pressure ulcers. They also argue that the defendants may be liable for their failure to properly train staff to adequately monitor patients in need. Although the outcome will be decided by a jury down the road, bed sore attorneys urge victims to seek help from their families or any healthcare provider because these sores can be extremely detrimental to a person’s health.
A brain dysfunction caused Messina to collapse and landed him in and out of hospitals and rehabilitation centers beginning in late August of 2006. Several days after his admission into the hospital, he was diagnosed with bedsores. He began to develop the bedsores at SIUH and Golden Gate Rehabilitation and Health Care Center. Professionals say that Messina’s bed sores worsened until ulcers were developed on his mouth, buttocks, ankles, and genitals. Many of these bed sores had healed by the time he entered Golden Gate Rehabilitation Center. Various health problems sent Messina back and forth between the hospital and the rehab center over the next year. He can no longer walk due to a dislocated hip and he is unable to receive a replacement because of the infection which was caused by the bedsores. The New York Supreme Court jury assigned to this case found SIUH 75% responsible for the developments and complications of the bedsores. Bed sore attorneys say that this means that the hospital is liable for $4 million of the total awarded to Messina.
Carmella Saldana, of Oklahoma City, was arrested on June 6, 2011 on a felony abuse and neglect by a caretaker charge. Saldana’s mother, Deborah Gay Ramirez, suffered a stroke in 2006 that left the right side of her body paralyzed. In 2009 she suffered a mini-stroke that left her completely paralyzed and bedridden. According to Saldana’s sister Christa Ramirez, Saldana took a more active role in their mother’s care after her stroke. But after their mother died on August 7, 2010 at the age of 57, Christa is accusing her sister of elder abuse and wants her to pay for the way she treated their mother.
It is essential that people keep pressure off of the open sore in order to limit damage and irritation to the skin. Patients should also maintain good hygiene and a strong and nutritious diet. Although cleanliness is important, it is essential to delicately clean and dry the wound as opposed to a vigorous rubbing motion which could cause further damage. There are many important vitamins and nutrients which contribute to healthy skin. People should be sure to have a sufficient intake of protein, calories, zinc, iron, and vitamins A and C. 
Sustained pressure occurs when the skin and tissue are compacted between the bone and an outer surface. Surfaces such as beds and wheel chairs are the most common. The pressure may over power the blood, flowing through the capillaries, preventing oxygen and nutrients from reaching the skin tissues. Bedsore attorneys believe that regions of the body that are not protected by fat or muscle tend to be at the greatest risk of bedsores caused by sustained pressure.
Wheelchairs are a necessary means of mobility for many people worldwide. Although wheelchairs allow individuals to move freely from place to place, the extended period of time in the same position could lead to pressure ulcers. Those who rely on wheelchairs need to be weary of this potential. People who frequently use wheelchairs often suffer from pressure sores in a few sites in particular. The tailbone or buttocks, the shoulder blades and spine, and the backs of the legs and arms are common sites for bedsores to form. These areas of the body rest against the wheelchair for a prolonged period of time, creating a wound which slowly evolves through the bedsore stages.
As 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.
Bed sores are a debilitating and completely avoidable occurrence in a nursing home or other similar care facility. As