How Bedsores Can Reveal Nursing Home Neglect

When a loved one is placed in a nursing home, families trust that they will receive appropriate care, attention, and respect. Unfortunately, this trust is sometimes broken. One of the clearest warning signs of nursing home neglect is the development of bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers. These injuries are not only painful and dangerous—they are often preventable, making them a red flag for abuse or neglect.

In this blog, we examine what bedsores are, why they occur, what the statistics reveal about their prevalence, and how they can serve as strong evidence in legal claims against negligent nursing homes.

What Are Bedsores?

Bedsores are injuries to the skin and underlying tissue caused by prolonged pressure on the skin. They often develop on parts of the body with little fat and muscle, such as the heels, hips, tailbone, and back. Immobile patients—those confined to a bed or wheelchair—are especially vulnerable.

The National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) classifies bedsores into four stages:

• Stage 1: Redness or discoloration that does not fade when pressure is relieved.
• Stage 2: Partial-thickness skin loss with blistering or shallow open wounds.
• Stage 3: Full-thickness skin loss that may expose fat tissue.
• Stage 4: Deep wounds exposing muscle, bone, or tendons; often accompanied by infection.

Bedsores can lead to serious complications such as infections, sepsis, and even death if left untreated.

Alarming Statistics on Nursing Home Bedsores

Despite being preventable, bedsores remain a serious issue in long-term care settings:

• A 2022 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that around 11% of nursing home residents have pressure ulcers. Among those with limited mobility, the rate is even higher.
• A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society estimated that up to 28% of nursing home residents will develop bedsores during their stay.

These statistics highlight a persistent problem: even though bedsores are preventable, they are still occurring at unacceptable rates, often because of understaffing, poor training, or outright nursing home neglect.

Bedsores Are Largely Preventable

One of the most important aspects of bedsores in the legal context is that they are typically preventable. With proper care—such as regular repositioning, adequate hydration, skin inspections, and use of pressure-relieving devices—most pressure ulcers can be avoided.

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), pressure ulcers are a “never event”—a type of medical error that should never happen in a facility that provides proper care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has also identified severe bedsores as a quality-of-care indicator and tracks their occurrence as a measure of a facility’s standard of care.

How Bedsores Indicate Nursing Home Neglect or Abuse

Bedsores can be key evidence in cases of nursing home neglect or abuse because they are a visible, medically documentable condition that can reveal substandard care. Here’s why:

1. Failure to Follow Standard Protocols

If a resident develops bedsores, especially advanced ones (Stage 3 or 4), it often indicates that staff failed to:

• Reposition the resident regularly (usually every 2 hours)
• Maintain skin hygiene and dryness
• Provide sufficient nutrition and hydration
• Use appropriate support surfaces like special mattresses or cushions

Medical records, care plans, and nursing logs can be reviewed to determine if these protocols were followed. If not, that failure can constitute negligence on the nursing home’s behalf.

2. Lack of Documentation or Delayed Treatment

Sometimes, families are not even informed that their loved one has developed bedsores. In other cases, treatment is delayed until the wound becomes infected. Such delays can violate both professional standards of care and legal requirements for timely medical intervention.

3. Evidence of Systemic Problems

In many nursing home abuse cases, bedsores are not isolated incidents. They often reflect a systemic issue—such as chronic understaffing, inadequate training, or high turnover. If a facility has a history of citations or complaints related to pressure ulcers, it can bolster a family’s case against the nursing home.

Legal Theories in Nursing Home Bedsore Lawsuits

In Illinois, families may bring a legal claim against a nursing home under several theories:

1. Negligence

This involves proving that the nursing home owed a duty of care, breached that duty by failing to provide proper care, and that the breach caused the resident’s injury (e.g., bedsores leading to infection or hospitalization).

2. Violation of the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act

The Illinois Nursing Home Care Act (210 ILCS 45/) protects residents’ rights to proper care and freedom from abuse or neglect. A bedsore resulting from substandard care may constitute a direct violation of this Act.

3. Medical Malpractice

If the bedsore resulted from a licensed medical provider’s failure (such as an attending physician), the claim may also be framed as a medical malpractice case, requiring expert testimony.

4. Wrongful Death

If a loved one dies from complications related to untreated or infected bedsores, surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim.

Proving Your Bedsore Case

In a bedsore-related legal claim, the following types of evidence can help establish neglect:

• Photographic documentation of the wounds and their progression.
• Medical records, including wound care notes and physician assessments.
• Care plans that show how often the resident was supposed to be repositioned.
• Staffing records and schedules to show whether there were enough qualified caregivers on duty.
• Witness statements, including from family, staff, or other residents.
• Inspection reports or citations from the Illinois Department of Public Health or CMS.

What to Do If You Suspect Neglect at an Illinois Nursing Home

If you believe a loved one developed bedsores due to poor care in a nursing home, here are steps you can take:

1. Document the Injury: Take clear photographs and keep notes about the location, size, and severity of the sores.
2. Request Records: Ask for copies of medical charts, care plans, and incident reports.
3. File a Complaint: You can report suspected neglect and file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Public Health.
4. Consult an Attorney: An Illinois nursing home neglect lawyer can investigate, gather evidence, and determine whether you have a legal claim.

Contact the Award-Winning Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers at John J. Malm & Associates

When a nursing home resident develops pressure ulcers, especially serious or untreated ones, it is a clear sign that something is wrong. These injuries are painful, preventable, and often the result of neglect. Because of their nature, pressure sores are often powerful evidence in legal claims for nursing home abuse or neglect.

If your loved one has suffered from bedsores while in a nursing facility, don’t wait. Our skilled Illinois nursing home abuse attorneys can help you understand your options, protect your loved one’s rights, and hold negligent facilities accountable. Contact John J. Malm & Associates today for a free consultation.