Bedsores & Pressure Ulcers in Florida Nursing Homes, Assisted Living facilities, & Group Homes
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Why Bedsores Happen—and Why They’re Usually Preventable
Bedsores (also called pressure ulcers, pressure injuries, or ulcers) form when constant pressure cuts off blood flow to the skin. They are common among residents who are immobile, confined to a wheelchair, or unable to reposition themselves. In Florida nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and group homes, these wounds almost always signal inadequate supervision, poor hygiene, or delayed medical care. Left unchecked, bedsores can deepen, become infected, lead to sepsis, and even result in amputation or death.
What Is a Bedsore?
A bedsore begins as skin and underlying tissue break down from prolonged pressure. The injury may start with a reddish or purplish area that feels warm, then progress to an open wound. Without swift intervention, infection can spread into muscle or bone, making recovery slow and painful.
What Causes Bedsores in Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, and Group Homes?
Facilities put residents at risk when they:
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Fail to turn or reposition immobile residents every two hours
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Allow prolonged sitting in wheelchairs without pressure-relief cushions
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Neglect regular skin checks or ignore early redness
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Provide poor nutrition or hydration that slows healing
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Leave incontinent residents in wet and/or soiled linens
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Delay wound-care consultations or physician-ordered treatments
Can Bedsores Be Treated in Long-Term Care Settings?
With proper wound care, many bedsores can heal, but recovery depends on the resident’s health and the quality of nursing care. Advanced sores often take months to close and may require surgical intervention. Untreated or poorly treated ulcers can progress to deep tissue loss, systemic infection, and life-threatening complications.
Assessing Risk: The Braden Scale
Florida facilities should use the Braden Scale to rate a resident’s sensory perception, moisture exposure, activity level, mobility, nutrition, and friction/shear risk. Accurate, frequent reassessments help staff identify who needs aggressive prevention measures. Failing to update the Braden score after a change in condition violates standard nursing practice.
How Can Facilities Prevent Bedsores?
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Reposition residents at least every two hours, or per physician’s orders
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Use pressure-reducing mattresses and wheelchair cushions
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Keep skin clean, dry, and moisturized
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Provide protein-rich diets and adequate hydration
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Perform daily skin inspections and document any changes
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Train staff on early signs of skin breakdown and proper lifting techniques
Where Do Bedsores Most Commonly Develop?
Typical pressure points include:
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Tailbone and hips
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Lower back and spine
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Heels and ankles
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Shoulder blades
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Elbows and knees
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Back of the head
What Are the 4 Stages of Bedsores?
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Stage 1: Red or discolored skin that may feel warm or itchy.
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Stage 2: Partial-thickness skin loss; looks like a blister or shallow crater.
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Stage 3: Full-thickness tissue loss with visible fat and a crater-like wound.
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Stage 4: Extensive tissue loss exposing muscle, tendon, or bone; high infection risk.
A wound covered in slough or eschar is classified as “unstageable.” Deep tissue injuries may also appear purple or dark red beneath intact skin.
Bedsores Are Often a Sign of Neglect
When nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or group homes ignore care plans, skip repositioning schedules, or delay physician-ordered treatments, they can and should be held legally accountable for the pain and complications that follow.
Contact FIDJ for a Free Case Review
If your loved one developed bedsores in a Florida nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home, you deserve answers. Contact the experienced attorneys at FIDJ for a FREE case review.
*The information contained herein is not medical advice.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers
Are bedsores considered a form of neglect?
Yes. Most bedsores are preventable with proper care and attention. Among other things, facilities must ensure that residents are regularly turned and repositioned, their skin is monitored and kept clean, and they receive adequate hydration and nutrition. When a resident develops severe pressure ulcers, it typically indicates inadequate staffing, untrained or indifferent caregivers, poor supervision, or a failure to adhere to basic nursing standards of care. These lapses constitute neglect under Florida law. Facilities have a legal duty to protect residents from avoidable injuries, including bedsores and pressure ulcers, and may be held accountable when they fail to do so.
How quickly can a bedsore develop?
A bedsore can develop quickly, usually in a matter of hours, when a resident remains in one position without relief. That’s why facilities are required to regularly turn, reposition, and monitor residents who are immobile, confined to a wheelchair, or unable to move independently. The risk is even greater for residents with cognitive or communication impairments, such as dementia, intellectual disability, or brain injury, who may be unable to express pain or discomfort. In these cases, staff must be especially vigilant.
What are the warning signs of a developing bedsore?
Early signs of a developing bedsore include redness, warmth, or discoloration of the skin that doesn’t fade after pressure is relieved. Later stages may show blistering, open wounds, drainage, foul odor, or visible muscle or bone. Pain, fever, or confusion can signal infection or sepsis.
Are facilities required to monitor for bedsores?
Yes. Facilities that provide care, treatment, and supervision to residents who cannot care for themselves have an obligation to monitor for bedsores. This includes performing regular skin checks, documenting skin assessments, and using risk-assessment tools such as the Braden Scale to evaluate a resident’s likelihood of developing pressure ulcers.
Failure to perform these assessments, or to act when early warning signs appear, violates basic nursing standards and can lead to serious, preventable harm.
Who is most at risk for developing bedsores?
Residents who are immobile, paralyzed, or confined to a wheelchair or bed are at greatest risk. Those with diabetes, poor circulation, malnutrition, or incontinence are also more vulnerable and require close supervision.
Can bedsores be treated successfully?
Bedsores can be treated, but the outcome depends on early detection and consistent wound care. Minor sores can heal with proper cleaning and pressure relief. However, advanced ulcers may require surgical debridement, skin grafts, and expensive hospitalization to prevent and/or treat life-threatening infections.
What compensation can a resident recover in a Florida bedsore case?
If we are talking about a pure bedsore case that does not involve wrongful death, the damages include economic damages (e.g., medical expenses, including those covered by third party payor sources like Medicare or Medicaid), along with non-economic damages (e.g., pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of dignity, loss of independence, loss of the enjoyment of life, disfigurement, and disability). In cases of reckless conduct by the nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home, punitive damages may also be available. These types of damages are designed to punish the facility, in addition to the economic and non-economic damages.
How long do I have to file a lawsuit for a bedsore caused by a nursing home, assisted living facility, or group home in Florida?
Florida’s statute of limitations for nursing home, assisted living facility, and group home abuse and neglect cases is generally two years from when the injury is discovered, but specific circumstances may extend this period. It’s important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible. For more information about statutes of limitation, check out our blog titled, "The Deadline to File a Florida Nursing Home, Assisted Living Facility, Group Home, or Adult Day Care Center Abuse or Neglect Case".
Why should I hire a Florida lawyer experienced in bedsore cases?
Bedsore cases require attorneys who understand both the medical complexities and the unique Florida laws that protect residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and group homes. A skilled lawyer can obtain medical records, work with wound care and related medical and nursing experts, and trace how the facility’s failures led to the bedsore and/or related infection. This experience is critical to proving liability, building a strong case, and securing full compensation for the injured resident.
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