How Long Does It Take Bedsores to Develop?

When people are immobilized from injury or the effects of age, their confinement to a bed or wheelchair leaves them vulnerable to bedsores. These extremely painful wounds have the potential to lead to life-threatening medical complications. 

Care providers must take measures to prevent bedsores from developing in patients. Unfortunately, in cases of nursing home abuse or neglect, bedsores are one of the most common signs that proper care is not being provided. 

Inadequate attention, lack of proper repositioning, or failure to monitor vulnerable individuals can result in these painful sores, which are preventable with the right care. Understanding how long does it take to get a bedsore and recognizing the signs of neglect is crucial for anyone with a loved one in a nursing home or long-term care facility.

If you or a loved one suffers because a care team fails in its duty, Pierce Skrabanek can help hold them accountable and fight for compensation. Call to speak to our bedsores and pressure ulcer lawyers at (832) 690-7000, or contact us online for a free consultation.

What Is a Bedsore?

The Mayo Clinic describes bedsores as “injuries to the skin and the tissue below the skin that are due to pressure on the skin for a long time.” Typically, bedsores appear on the skin covering bony areas, including heels, ankles, hips, and tailbones. Other names for these wounds include:

• Pressure ulcers
• Pressure sores
• Pressure injuries
• Decubitus ulcers

Pressure sores develop in stages, with symptoms increasing through each stage. 

How Fast Can Bedsores Develop: A Look Into the Different Stages

Bedsores start out as reddened or discolored areas on the skin that feel warm and don’t blanch when pressed. Care teams should notice these areas and implement immediate measures to prevent the wounds from progressing, and if they don’t, our skilled bedsores and pressure ulcer lawyers can work to hold them responsible. 

Untreated bedsores develop over four stages:

• Stage 1: The affected area burns, itches, or hurts because of tissue death. Lighter-colored skin reddens, and darker skin develops a blue or purplish discoloration. Though the injury may seem only surface-level, ulcers can be deep.
• Stage 2: The affected area is painful and has blistered or developed an open wound.
• Stage 3:  The ulcer progresses far below the skin’s surface. Tissue damage deadens nerves, signs of infection may be apparent, and the ulcers may have a crater-like appearance. The potential for sepsis increases substantially, making the wound a life-threatening situation.
• Stage 4: The wound is large to the extent that muscle, joints, tendons, or bones may be visible. If signs of infection are not already apparent, they will be soon. Necrosis, the death of body tissue, is present in affected soft tissues.

How Long Does It Take for Pressure Sores to Develop in Nursing Home Residents?

Nursing home residents often have extremely limited mobility and rely on caregivers for all their needs, including position changes, cleaning, daily walks, and more. When left immobilized on a bed or in a wheelchair, residents can develop sores within hours, especially older adults whose skin has thinned with age. Caregivers are responsible for adjusting residents’ positions, and failure to perform this duty could be a sign of elder abuse or neglect.

Position adjustment is essential to preventing bedsores. It is the care team’s legal responsibility to administer this measure, and you may have grounds to sue a hospital or nursing care facility for resulting bedsores. When you see evidence of this failure and neglect, you should report the abuse.

The team at Pierce Skrabanek can help you through the reporting process and manage your claim against the facility. We are not intimidated by tough opponents, whether they be large hospitals or well-represented nursing care facilities. 

As tough negotiators, we will demand a fair settlement for your loved one’s suffering, and if the other side is not cooperative, our experienced trial attorneys will be prepared to fight for you in court. Give us a call at (832) 690-7000 or contact us online so we can get to work.

Types of Nursing Home Abuse That Increase the Risk of Pressure Sores

Unfortunately, there are many additional ways nursing home or hospital residents experience abuse. Almost all forms of abuse can contribute to the onset of bedsores and speed up how fast a pressure sore takes to develop. 

The wounds can form in as little as two to three hours. They can even advance through the stages in that same amount of time. For example, residents may experience:

• Malnutrition and dehydration: Proper nutrition helps keep skin, tissues, and organs healthy and contributes to wound healing. Plus, the loss of fat and muscle results in less protection for residents.
• Lack of hygiene: Some residents are incontinent and may be left sitting in their own soiled clothes and sheets. These conditions contribute to infections that speed up the development of or intensify bedsores. 
• Lack of supervision: Unsupervised residents may also try to move on their own, perhaps to the bathroom or shower, and fall because of the facility’s negligence. The fall injury can leave residents confined to a bed, where they have a greater risk of developing pressure ulcers.
• Hard surfaces: Providing hard surfaces for patients to rest on can contribute to the development of bedsores. The hardness of the surface puts constant pressure on the skin, reducing blood flow and causing damage, especially when patients are unable to adjust their position.

Preventing Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

You can help protect your loved one from developing bedsores or other injuries by taking steps to prevent nursing home abuse. Stay present in your loved one’s life so you can assess their well-being through regular visits and phone calls. Stay informed about their medical care needs so you know whether those needs are being met.

Be on the alert for signs of abuse. Look for cuts, bruises, or areas of redness on the skin. Awareness of how long does it take bedsores to develop should keep you vigilant and push you toward keeping a close eye on your elderly loved ones. Note any changes in behavior, weight, or mental clarity, and if your instincts tell you something is wrong, listen to those instincts.

Pierce Skrabanek Fights for the Health and Happiness of Nursing Home Residents

It’s surprising to learn the truth regarding how long does it take to get a bedsore. Innocent elderly residents could end up suffering from dangerous and painful bedsores within just a matter of hours. If your loved one is suffering from bedsores or other consequences of neglect or abuse, a nursing home abuse lawyer from our team can lead your fight for justice. 

Call (832) 690-7000 or send us a message so we can review your case and see how we can put our 30 years of combined experience to work for you. Your loved one deserves dignity and respect.