Idaho Facilities Cited For Failing To Prevent Pressure Sores
Pressure Sores are a problem in Idaho nursing home facilities. In Fiscal Year 2009, the latest data available, a staggering 33 citations, or 40.5% of skilled nursing facilities, were cited by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare for failing to properly care for their residents in such a manner as to prevent or heal pressure sores.
What is a "pressure sore" and why is this statistic important, you may ask. According to the website "Bed Sore FAQs," a "pressure sore" also known more commonly as a "bed sore" is a condition where a resident's skin is damaged from sustained pressure which stops the flow of blood. Remarkably, according to this website, this condition can develop from being in a single position for a few hours. One simply way to prevent pressure or bed sores is to simply turn the resident at frequent and regular intervals.
Jonathan Rosenfeld and David Terry, attorneys in the Chicago, Illinois area, are currently involved in an exchange of ideas concerning bed sores and their prevention. Jonathan's blog - Nursing Homes Abuse Blog, and David's blog - Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog contain their thoughts. Their posts have been, and I expect will continue to be, an excellent resource for those interested in this important issue.
The fact remains, however, pressure or bed sores are preventable and are an unnecessary injury sustained by nursing home residents. If you are a resident who cannot move on your own, make sure the facility is providing you adequate care by turning you on a regular basis. If you have a loved one who is a resident of a nursing home, contact the facility and do the same. It is up to you to make sure nursing home facilities do all that is necessary to keep residents safe.
