What Are Bed Sores? Causes, Symptoms, and Risk Factors

By Your Health Magazine Contributor

Your Health Magazine Contributor

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What Are Bed Sores? Causes, Symptoms, and Risk Factors

Bed sores, also called pressure ulcers or pressure injuries, are areas of damaged skin and underlying tissue that develop when prolonged pressure reduces blood flow to a part of the body. They most commonly affect people who have limited mobility and spend extended periods in a bed, wheelchair, or chair.

Atlanta is Georgia’s largest city and the center of one of the state’s biggest metropolitan areas, with a population of more than 6o0,000 people. The city is home to a large healthcare network that includes major hospitals, rehabilitation centers, assisted living communities, and skilled nursing facilities serving older adults and people recovering from illness or injury.

Because many residents rely on long-term nursing care and daily assistance, proper caregiving plays an important role in preventing avoidable injuries such as bedsores. When a nursing home fails to provide appropriate care, families may seek nursing home abuse legal help in Atlanta to understand whether those injuries could be linked to neglect or abuse.

In this article, you’ll get to know what bed sores are, their causes, symptoms, and risk factors.

How Bed Sores Develop

Bed sores generally develop when sustained pressure is placed on an area of the body for too long. Pressure can restrict blood flow, preventing skin and underlying tissue from receiving enough oxygen and nutrients.

Friction and shearing can also contribute to skin damage. For example, repeatedly pulling or sliding a resident across a bed can place stress on the skin and underlying tissues.

Common areas where bed sores develop include the tailbone, hips, heels, ankles, elbows, shoulders, and the back of the head.

Common Symptoms

The appearance of a pressure injury can change as it progresses. Early signs may include an area of skin that is discolored, warmer or cooler than surrounding tissue, swollen, firm, or painful.

As the injury becomes more advanced, the skin may break open and develop a wound. Deeper pressure injuries can damage muscle, fat, tendons, or even bone.

Changes in skin appearance should not be dismissed, particularly when a person has limited mobility or other risk factors.

Who Is at Greater Risk?

People with limited mobility are among those most vulnerable to pressure injuries. A person who cannot reposition themselves independently may depend on caregivers to regularly change their position.

Other risk factors can include:

• Advanced age
• Poor nutrition or dehydration
• Reduced sensation
• Incontinence and prolonged moisture exposure
• Poor circulation
• Chronic medical conditions
• Limited ability to communicate discomfort
• Significant weight loss
• Dependence on others for personal care

Having one or more risk factors does not mean a person will necessarily develop a pressure injury. Proper preventive care can reduce the risk.

When a Bed Sore May Raise Concerns

A pressure injury does not automatically mean that neglect or abuse occurred. Some residents have serious health conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to skin breakdown even when appropriate care is provided.

However, repeated or worsening bed sores can warrant closer attention when there are signs that basic care needs may not have been addressed. Warning circumstances may include unexplained injuries, inadequate repositioning, poor hygiene, untreated wounds, dehydration, malnutrition, or a lack of appropriate medical attention.

Families should document what they observe and discuss concerns with the resident’s healthcare providers.

What Families Can Do

If you notice a new or worsening pressure injury, ask when it was first identified, what treatment is being provided, and what preventive measures are included in the resident’s care plan.

Keep photographs when appropriate, along with medical records, care notes, facility communications, and other relevant documentation. A dated record can help establish how the condition changed over time.

If you suspect that a nursing home resident has been neglected or abused, professional legal guidance can help you understand what information may be relevant and what options may be available.

Key Takeaways

• Bed sores develop when prolonged pressure damages skin and underlying tissue.
• Limited mobility is a major risk factor.
• Early symptoms can include discoloration, swelling, tenderness, or changes in skin temperature.
• Repositioning, skin monitoring, nutrition, hydration, and appropriate equipment can help reduce risk.
• A bed sore alone does not prove neglect or abuse.
• Families should document injuries, treatment, care plans, and communications when concerns arise.