Dedicated Georgia Attorneys for Nursing Home Infection Cases

Suthers & Harper has represented families throughout Georgia and South Carolina for more than 25 years in cases of nursing home abuse and neglect. One of the most alarming violations involves improper wound care, including the failure to prevent or treat bedsores and pressure ulcers. These wounds are not a regular part of aging. They develop when at-fault facilities neglect basic responsibilities such as repositioning residents, maintaining hygiene, and providing adequate nutrition. A Georgia nursing home injury attorney can help families seek accountability when poor wound care leads to serious injury or death.

How Pressure Ulcers Develop in Nursing Homes

Pressure ulcers, also known as bed sores, form when residents remain in one position for too long without proper relief. Immobile patients require regular repositioning to maintain circulation. When staff fail to meet this need, skin begins to break down, often leading to deep wounds that extend into muscle and bone.

Federal regulations require nursing homes to identify residents at risk for pressure ulcers and to implement care plans that include repositioning schedules and wound monitoring. Failure to follow these standards reflects the type of systemic neglect that is a hallmark of common nursing home violations.

Consequences of Untreated Wounds

When pressure ulcers and other wounds are ignored, the consequences are severe and often irreversible. Infections such as cellulitis and sepsis can spread rapidly throughout the body, overwhelming elderly residents whose immune systems are already compromised. Osteomyelitis, a severe bone infection, may also develop in advanced cases, requiring aggressive treatment or surgery. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that sepsis is one of the leading causes of hospitalization among nursing home residents. In many situations, the condition begins with wounds that were never properly cleaned or treated.

Untreated wounds also place residents at higher risk of amputation and long-term disability. Bedsores can erode tissue and bone, leaving residents unable to walk or perform basic activities without assistance. The emotional harm matches the physical toll. Residents who live with constant pain and limited mobility may experience depression, anxiety, and withdrawal from family or social interaction. Over time, improper wound care not only threatens physical health but also causes profound suffering and a significant decline in quality of life.

Facility Responsibilities in Wound Prevention and Care

Nursing homes have specific obligations to prevent wounds and to treat them when they occur. These responsibilities include:

Conducting regular skin assessments;

Following repositioning schedules for residents with limited mobility;

Providing adequate nutrition and hydration to support skin health; and

Cleaning and dressing wounds according to the physician’s orders.

When facilities ignore these steps, residents face unnecessary suffering. In some facilities, falsified records are used to conceal failures in wound care, making a thorough legal investigation essential.

How Staffing Shortages Lead to Wound Neglect

Improper wound care is often linked to dangerous understaffing. Too few aides on a shift means residents may not be repositioned as often as necessary or may miss routine skin checks. Inadequate staffing also leads to delays in dressing changes and poor monitoring for signs of infection. This link between understaffing and wound neglect shows how multiple violations frequently overlap in nursing homes.

Investigating Improper Wound Care Claims

Proving wound care neglect requires a detailed investigation. Attorneys often review care plans, staff logs, and medical records to determine whether facilities followed needed procedures. Photographs of wounds, hospital records, and testimony from medical experts can demonstrate the severity of the neglect.

At-fault facilities may argue that wounds were unavoidable due to medical conditions. However, evidence often shows that proper repositioning, nutrition, and hygiene would have prevented the injuries. A Savannah nursing home injury lawyer can use this evidence to hold facilities accountable.

Building a Case Against At-Fault Facilities

Improper wound care cases are complex because they involve both medical and regulatory evidence. Families rarely have access to the information needed to prove systemic neglect on their own. One crucial step is learning how to document abuse and neglect since photographs, medical reports, and written notes often provide critical support for a legal claim. Experienced attorneys can then obtain inspection reports, subpoena staff records, and consult with wound care specialists to demonstrate how facilities failed to meet their obligations.

Suthers & Harper has decades of experience handling these claims in Georgia and South Carolina. By pursuing cases against at-fault facilities, we help families recover compensation while also pushing for improvements in resident care.

Consult a Georgia Nursing Home Injury Attorney Today

Untreated wounds and pressure ulcers are clear signs of neglect in long-term care facilities. Suthers & Harper has the experience, resources, and trial record necessary to hold negligent facilities accountable. Our attorneys collaborate with medical experts to identify systemic failures and advocate for justice for families in Georgia and South Carolina. If your loved one suffered harm due to improper wound care, call 800.320.2384 today to speak with a Georgia nursing home injury attorney.