Bedsores are also known as pressure ulcers, and they are widely recognized as one of the clearest warning signs of nursing home neglect. These wounds develop when a resident is left in the same position for too long, which cuts off blood flow to the skin and underlying tissue.
With proper care, monitoring and repositioning, these injuries are almost entirely preventable. That is why federal regulators classify the most severe pressure ulcers as “never events.”
What is a “never event?”
These events should never occur in a properly staffed and attentive facility. According to the Mayo Clinic, Stage 3 and Stage 4 pressure ulcers acquired in a facility are considered hospital‑acquired conditions that should never happen under acceptable standards of care.
While it is possible for residents and patients to develop early stages of bedsores over the course of a single shift, caregivers must ensure that proper skin checks are done at least at the beginning and end of a shift. Then, they should make sure any skin changes are charted according to protocol.
Preventing pressure ulcers is the caregiver’s responsibility
Long-term residents who have lost critical mobility skills tend to experience bedsores without frequent repositioning.
Missouri adheres to federal regulations requiring care facilities to provide the level of supervision and assistance needed to prevent avoidable pressure ulcers. A resident who develops a bedsore may have been left unattended for extended periods, inadequately monitored or deprived of necessary support.
What happens when bedsores are ignored
Many serious complications, including infection, hospitalization, and in severe cases, life‑threatening harm, can occur quickly. Small skin breaks should be tended to immediately. When a facility cannot meet the basic standard of preventing bedsores, it raises concerns about the overall quality of care being provided.
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