Stage 1 Bedsore
- Reviewed By
Anthony C. Lanzone, Founding Partner
- Stage 1 bedsores are early skin injuries that result from prolonged pressure, often due to nursing home neglect.
- Staff can typically prevent high-risk residents from developing bedsores in nursing homes through frequent repositioning and proper hygiene care.
- If a nursing home’s failure to provide basic care results in a preventable bedsore, the resident may be entitled to pursue a claim and seek compensation for their losses.
A stage 1 bedsore is often one of the first signs that a nursing home resident is not receiving the care they need. Without prompt intervention, this early pressure injury can quickly progress into a painful open wound. At Lanzone Morgan, LLP, we stand up for California families when vulnerable individuals develop preventable bedsores due to nursing home facilities’ negligence.
What Is a Stage 1 Bedsore?
Also known as a pressure ulcer, a bedsore is a wound that occurs when the skin is subjected to prolonged pressure. There are several different stages of bedsores reflecting the severity of the injury. Stage 1 is the earliest and mildest form.
Unlike more advanced stages of bedsores, a stage 1 pressure injury does not involve an open wound or broken skin. At this stage, the skin is still intact, but damage has begun beneath the surface.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Stage 1 Pressure Ulcers
One of the first signs of a stage 1 bedsore is skin discoloration. Isolated parts of the skin may look bruised and appear red, blue, purplish, or pink. Pressing the area will not cause it to lighten or turn white. These physical changes are often most obvious in people with fair skin and may not be clearly visible in those with darker skin tones.
Discomfort is another early warning sign. The skin may feel tender to the touch and burn or itch.
Some people also notice changes in sensation, such as the skin feeling warmer or cooler than usual. The affected area may also feel soft or firmer than the surrounding skin.
Pressure injuries most commonly appear over bony parts of the body. Patients may notice pressure ulcer symptoms on the heels, hips, tailbone, backs and sides of the knees, back of the head, and shoulder blades.
Common Causes of Early-Stage Bedsores
Stage 1 bedsores form when consistent pressure limits blood flow to the skin. Reduced circulation cuts off the skin’s oxygen supply, causing the cells in the skin’s outer layer to die.
This type of prolonged pressure can occur when caregivers leave a vulnerable individual in the same position in a bed or wheelchair for too long without repositioning them. Moisture from sweat, urine, or feces due to poor hygiene can increase the risk of bedsores in these situations. A person is also more likely to develop a pressure injury when the skin is pulled or stretched as they slide down in a wheelchair or inclined bed.
These conditions are often a result of nursing home abuse and neglect. Staff members must monitor high-risk residents, reposition them regularly, and keep them clean and dry. Failing to provide this level of care for as little as two to three hours can lead to an early-stage bedsore.
Who Is Most at Risk for Developing a Stage 1 Pressure Injury?
Certain individuals are more vulnerable to developing bedsores in a medical or nursing home setting, including those who:
- Are malnourished or dehydrated
- Have a chronic illness, such as diabetes, chronic venous insufficiency, or kidney failure
- Have thin or fragile skin
- Have limited mobility due to age
- Are paralyzed
- Are wheelchair users
- Are in a coma
- Have dementia or Alzheimer’s
- Are obese
- Wear casts, splints, or prosthetic devices
Treatment for Bedsores Stage 1
A stage 1 pressure sore requires immediate intervention. If nursing home staff allow the conditions that led to the injury to persist, it can progress into a deeper wound that carries a greater risk of infection and long-term damage.
The good news is that an early bedsore can heal on its own with the right support. Here’s what stage 1 pressure ulcer treatment may involve:
- Relieving Pressure Quickly: Caregivers must remove the source of pressure that caused the bedsore and avoid placing further weight on the affected area.
- Cleaning and Drying the Skin: Staff may gently clean the wound with soap and water or a saline solution, then dry it to remove moisture that could aggravate the injury.
- Applying Protective Barriers: Caregivers may protect the injury by applying medical bandages.
- Supporting Nutrition: Proper hydration and adequate protein intake can improve circulation and strengthen the skin’s ability to repair itself.
- Monitoring the Area Closely: Staff must inspect the site daily to confirm that the wound is healing properly.
How Caregivers Can Prevent Stage 1 Bedsores From Developing
Stage 1 bedsores are often preventable with attentive care. In fact, bedsores are among the most common nursing home abuse injuries. Nursing homes have a legal duty to identify residents at high risk of pressure injuries and include prevention strategies in their care plans.
One of the most important measures is regular repositioning to relieve pressure on vulnerable areas. Because bedsores can develop within just a few hours, staff must consistently adjust residents to keep blood flowing to all parts of the skin.
Nursing home staff can also reduce residents’ risk of bedsores by keeping their skin clean and dry. Thus, the staff must provide the resident plenty of opportunities to use the bathroom and frequently change bedding, clothing, and incontinence garments. They must also make sure residents are eating and drinking enough to promote healthy circulation.
Quality care will also include routine skin checks to look for early signs of pressure injuries and promptly treat them. When a facility fails to take these basic precautions and your loved one develops a new bedsore or has one that worsens, your family may have grounds to sue the nursing home.
Holding Nursing Homes Accountable for Stage 1 Bedsores
Nursing homes and long-term care facilities have a legal duty to provide proper care to the vulnerable residents entrusted to them. When improper care leads to a preventable bedsore, it may constitute negligence, entitling your loved one to compensation for their losses, including medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
With more than 75 years of combined experience, the attorneys at Lanzone Morgan, LLP, are passionate about seeking justice for victims of elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other care facilities. Our team has recovered over $250 million in compensation for affected residents and their loved ones, earning a reputation as one of the nation’s leading elder abuse firms.
Let us put our track record to work for your family. Contact us online or call 888-887-9777 for a free consultation.
- Fact-Checked
This content has been legally reviewed and approved by nursing home abuse attorney, Anthony Lanzone. Anthony holds notable memberships with professional organizations including the American Association for Justice and Consumer Attorneys of California.
VIEW SOURCES
- Bedsores. (n.d.). Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/bedsores
- Bedsores (Pressure injuries). (2023, February 24). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17823-bedsores-pressure-injuries
- Recognizing and Treating Pressure Sores. (n.d.). Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center. https://msktc.org/sci/factsheets/recognizing-and-treating-pressure-sores
- Siegel, Z. (2016, October 25). What causes bed sores and how can they be prevented? Columbus Regional Health. https://www.crh.org/healthy-tomorrow/story/healthy-tomorrow/2016/10/25/what-causes-bed-sores-and-how-can-they-be-prevented
- Fact-Checked
This content has been legally reviewed and approved by nursing home abuse attorney, Anthony Lanzone. Anthony holds notable memberships with professional organizations including the American Association for Justice and Consumer Attorneys of California.
VIEW SOURCES
- Bedsores. (n.d.). Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/bedsores
- Bedsores (Pressure injuries). (2023, February 24). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17823-bedsores-pressure-injuries
- Recognizing and Treating Pressure Sores. (n.d.). Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center. https://msktc.org/sci/factsheets/recognizing-and-treating-pressure-sores
- Siegel, Z. (2016, October 25). What causes bed sores and how can they be prevented? Columbus Regional Health. https://www.crh.org/healthy-tomorrow/story/healthy-tomorrow/2016/10/25/what-causes-bed-sores-and-how-can-they-be-prevented