Nursing home abuse and neglect put vulnerable residents at serious risk, leading to malnutrition, dehydration, infections, and preventable injuries. When facilities fail to provide adequate care, residents suffer, and families are left feeling helpless. Lack of supervision, improper medical treatment, and unsafe conditions can result in devastating harm. Understanding the warning signs, knowing your legal rights, and holding negligent facilities accountable are crucial steps in protecting your loved ones. Learn how to take action and seek justice.
February 17, 2026
3 min
Few injuries are as troubling — and as preventable — as bedsores in nursing homes. Also known as pressure ulcers or pressure injuries, bedsores can develop when a resident remains in the same position for extended periods without proper movement or care. At Michael Hill Trial Law, we frequently work with families who are devastated to discover that a loved one developed severe bedsores while under professional supervision.
In many cases, bedsores are not simply a medical complication of aging. They are a warning sign of neglect, understaffing, or failure to follow basic care standards. Understanding how bedsores develop, when they may indicate negligence, and what legal protections exist in Ohio can help families take informed action.
Bedsores occur when prolonged pressure reduces blood flow to the skin and underlying tissue. They most commonly form on areas of the body where bones are close to the skin, such as:
Residents who are immobile, bedridden, or confined to wheelchairs are at the highest risk. Without regular repositioning and proper hygiene, tissue damage can begin quickly — sometimes within hours.
Bedsores are classified into stages based on severity.
Advanced bedsores can lead to infection, sepsis, and even death. When ulcers reach later stages, it often suggests prolonged neglect.
Medical standards widely recognize that most pressure ulcers are preventable with appropriate care. Nursing homes are expected to implement preventive measures for residents at risk.
Proper prevention typically includes:
When these measures are ignored or inconsistently applied, residents suffer the consequences.
Not every bedsore automatically proves neglect. However, certain circumstances strongly suggest that proper care was not provided.
Negligence may be suspected if:
Severe or advanced-stage bedsores rarely develop overnight. They often reflect ongoing failure.
Understaffing is one of the most common underlying causes of nursing home neglect. When too few caregivers are responsible for too many residents, essential tasks — like repositioning and wound monitoring — may be rushed or skipped.
Chronic understaffing can result in:
These systemic failures may expose the facility to civil liability.
Families often notice early signs of trouble before staff acknowledge a problem.
Red flags include:
If a loved one develops a pressure ulcer, immediate medical attention and clear documentation are essential.
Nursing homes in Ohio must comply with both state regulations and federal standards that address pressure ulcer prevention and treatment.
Facilities are required to:
Failure to meet these obligations may form the basis of a negligence claim.
When bedsores are not properly treated, they can escalate rapidly and cause life-threatening complications.
Potential outcomes include:
For elderly residents, even a single advanced pressure ulcer can drastically alter quality of life.
State inspections often identify deficiencies related to wound care and staffing. Repeated citations for inadequate care may demonstrate systemic problems within a facility.
Inspection findings may show:
These records can provide important evidence in a legal case.
If your loved one develops a pressure ulcer in a nursing home, prompt action is critical.
Recommended steps include:
Early investigation can help determine whether the injury was preventable.
At Michael Hill Trial Law, we understand how painful it is to discover that a loved one developed severe bedsores while relying on professional caregivers. These injuries are often a visible sign of deeper neglect.
Our firm focuses on cases involving nursing home neglect, inadequate supervision, and preventable injuries to elderly residents. We work with families to investigate whether proper preventive measures were followed and to pursue accountability when they were not.
Pressure ulcers are not an inevitable part of aging. With attentive care and proper staffing, most bedsores can be avoided. When facilities fail to provide basic preventive care, residents may suffer unnecessary pain and lasting harm.
If your loved one developed bedsores in a nursing home, it is important to understand your legal options.
Michael Hill Trial Law is dedicated to protecting elderly residents and their families in Ohio and across the United States.
Contact Michael Hill Trial Law to learn how the firm can help your family pursue accountability and safer nursing home care.
