How to Recognize Stage 1 Bedsores In Phoenix

Published on November 3, 2024

Bedsores—or pressure ulcers—have long been a problem for people with limited mobility and those who are bedridden. The elderly face a heightened risk of bedsores due to the fragility of aging skin. Bedsores are injuries that develop from unrelieved pressure on the skin, especially over bony areas where the pressure forces the flesh against the bone. When pressure continues unrelieved, the blood circulation diminishes, depriving the tissue of oxygen and causing cell death. Eventually, enough skin cells die and slough away to cause a sore to form, advancing into an open wound.

Bedsores are preventable with regular position changes to relieve or redistribute pressure and restore blood flow. Unfortunately, sometimes caregivers fail to take the necessary preventative measures and the early signs of bedsores appear. Recognizing and quickly treating a stage-1 bedsore helps to support healing and prevents the bedsore from advancing to more serious stages that lead to infection and deadly sepsis. If you suspect a loved one is suffering from neglect-related bedsores, a Phoenix bed sores lawyer can help you understand your legal options and seek justice for your loved one.

What Are the Signs of Stage-1 Bedsores?

Stage-1 bedsores are in the earliest stage of the wound. Identifying a bedsore at this early stage and providing prompt treatment prevents the bedridden patient or nursing home resident from experiencing the more painful and dangerous later stages of bedsores. The earliest signs of bedsores include the following:

• An area of skin that looks different from the surrounding area
• Skin that’s red, inflamed, or discolored
• On dark-skinned individuals, the skin in pressure point areas may appear purplish
• Skin does not turn white or lighten when pressed
• An area of skin that feels softer, rougher, or hardened compared to the surrounding skin
• An area of skin that feels hotter or colder than the surrounding area

Those tasked with caring for the elderly, bedridden individuals, or immobile people who spend many hours in wheelchairs have a duty to take all reasonable measures to prevent the development of bedsores. This duty includes promptly recognizing and addressing the early signs of stage-1 bedsores.

Treating Stage 1 Bedsores in Phoenix

In stage-1 bedsores, the skin is discolored but not broken. If the skin remains discolored for thirty minutes after relieving pressure from the area, it’s a stage 1 bedsore that requires prompt action. Visible discoloration on the skin’s surface indicates a more serious problem below the discolored surface area where blood vessels have become compromised and cell death has occurred. It’s critical to treat stage-1 bedsores by doing the following:

• Completely relieving pressure from the area
• Gently washing and thoroughly drying the area
• Keeping the area clean and dry
• Use a moisture barrier if necessary to protect the region from bodily fluids
• Ensuring that the individual is well-hydrated and has adequate nutritional intake
• Examine the area two or three times a day to ensure that it is healing and not advancing to an open sore
• Address the cause of the bedsore development by examining care records and ensuring the individual receives more frequent positional changes
• Seek more aggressive treatment if the discoloration doesn’t improve in two or three days

Treating stage-1 bedsores is critical to prevent a worsened medical condition, particularly in those with weakened immunity and in elderly people who are more likely to develop sepsis from infected bedsores.

How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help?

An attorney with experience representing victims of elder abuse and patient neglect can help you or your loved one recover compensation if a caregiver neglects to prevent, detect, or treat pressure sores resulting in a worsened medical condition, infection, or death. Call the nursing home abuse lawyers at Knapp & Roberts in Phoenix today for skilled legal representation throughout your case.