The Mininno Law Office serves patients and families affected by bed sores in the New Jersey and Philadelphia region. Typically, these bed sores and pressure ulcers are caused by nursing home neglect and abuse. This is the second post in a series of four that will describe the stages of bed sores. It is important to know the bed sore stages as laid out by the Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. This post covers the second evolution of bed sores, Stage II.
What Happens if Stage I Bed Sores Are Not Treated Promptly?
Typically, once a Stage I bed sore develops, medical professionals are attentive and realize the danger that the patient is in. The medical professionals then take the appropriate steps to care for the bed sores and avoid any serious complications. However, when the medical professionals neglect their duties, a Stage I bed sore will progress into a Stage II bed sore, which is even more painful and potentially fatal.
As Stage II bed sores develop, so too do a host of other symptoms. There is a skin loss involving the epidermis, dermis, or both layers of skin. The bed sore will look superficial, much like an abrasion, blister, or small crater. It will look like a shallow open ulcer with a pink-red wound bed, without slough. It could also look like a serum-filled, open, or ruptured blister. Once bed sores progress past this stage, they are much harder to treat.
Prevention is Key
As discussed in the previous blog, prevention is the key to stopping bed sores. Essentially, the medical staff needs to be attentive to the needs of their patients, especially those who are unable to care for themselves and shift positions. Bed Sores are entirely preventable; it just takes staff attention. Unfortunately, in many nursing homes and assisted living facilities, it is difficult to come across because of budget cuts and under-staffing.
This should serve as a warning for family members of patients in these facilities. We are not suggesting that all facilities, or even most, are dangerous, but it is extremely important to monitor your loved one’s condition in these facilities to prevent things like bed sores. The medical staff should be checking on your family member and so should you.
Bed Sores Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia
If you or a loved one has suffered from bed sores in a nursing home or assisted living facility you should contact the Mininno Law Office for a free consultation and case evaluation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. We are experienced at holding those who caused your or your loved one’s injury responsible for their actions. Let the Mininno Law Office serve you by getting you the fair and just compensation which you truly deserve.
According to a study that was published online in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences by Dr. Sarah D. Berry, a scientist at the Institute for Aging Research of Hebrew SeniorLife in Boston, the elderly are at a greater risk of falling the days after they start taking non-SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants, such as bupropion or venlafaxine. The researchers studied information on 1,181 nursing home residents who fell and compared the changes in their antidepressants shortly before the fall. They discovered that a patient’s 
According to the complaint, from 2004 to 2008, many of the facility’s residents suffered injuries, and five patients died during that time. The poor care in question involved failure to follow physicians orders, failure to treat wounds and bed sores, failure to update resident care plans, and failure to monitor the blood sugar levels of diabetic residents.
Marisa Robles, 31, faced 92 counts related to theft, fraud and elder abuse and pleaded guilty to 32 counts of fraud and elder abuse this month. Robles used her access to the 81-year-old man’s financial documents to write checks to herself and sign his name. According to Deputy District Attorney Barrie Pink, “She started small to see if she could get away with it,” first forging checks for $500 but then quickly began writing them for larger amounts up to $10,000. Robles stole up to $300,000 from the elderly man.
Even though he is claiming that she died of natural causes, the investigators are saying that she died of starvation while covered in bed sores. The autopsy showed she died of severe pneumonia, malnutrition and possibly dehydration. They are also saying that the house was messy and the only food was two cans in the cabinet. According to her driver’s license, Ms. Rogers weighed 140 pounds, but at the time of her death, she weighed only 70 pounds. The coroner said the bed sores were severe and all over her body and that the sores on her feet meant that she was too weak to move her legs. More than a third of the home’s combined monthly income of $3,500< came from Connie’s social security. According to bank records, that money was usually withdrawn as cash days after it was deposited.
Mr. Rogers may have had good intentions for his mother’s care, but this is no excuse for the severe elder abuse that occurred. Even if she refused to eat or was difficult to care for, he should have known the point where he needed the professional help. There is no record of Ms. Rogers applying for or receiving any Medicare benefits. This means that he did not take advantage of a service that could have improved her condition drastically and allowed her to live much longer.
Mercedes Iverson, 86, died on Thursday, July 14 at the NorthShore University HealthSystem Evanston Hospital after an “assault” by another nursing home resident. Iverson had been a resident of the Maryhaven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Glenview, Illinois for fiver years after her daughter, Laurie Iverson, saw that she began showing signs of “advanced Alzheimer’s.” Preliminary reports said Iverson had fallen, but the autopsy revealed that “assault injuries” led to her death. The medical examiner’s office said that her death was caused by craniocerebral injuries from an assault and from heart disease, and ruled the death a homicide. No other details about the incident have been released from the facility or the authorities.
According to the fire department, facility workers wheeled the woman outside daily so she could smoke by the entrance of the building. The residents were allowed to smoke in that area of the nursing home. But it was not required by the home that the residents be supervised while they were smoking. According to Jim Suydam, spokesman for the Texas Veterans Land Board, an entity that runs the El Paso facility, since the woman did not suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, she did not need to be under constant supervision.
Soland was given a criminal neglect charge to for each victimized patient, along with a possession charge for the drug. Soland pleaded guilty in May to one felony theft and criminal neglect charge, and the rest of the charges from the incident were dropped. She was sentenced to 120 days in jail and was credited for 67 days served. She must also complete five years of probation.