How Do Elderly Nursing Home Patients Develop Bedsores?

 Posted on October 15, 2026 in Personal Injury

Nursing home residents are elderly and often frail, requiring extensive care and assistance. Families who have loved ones in nursing homes have to take a leap of faith, putting their trust in the staff and management at a residential care facility that family members often know very little about. The truth is that nursing home residents often face abuse and neglect. Tragic stories of abuse and neglect are frequently on the news, and understaffing is often responsible for the worst outcomes for nursing home patients.

Bedsores are one of the most common consequences of nursing home understaffing. While you may not be able to monitor your loved one in their nursing home all the time, if your parent or grandparent has bedsores and you have a hunch that they may not be getting the care they need, take action right away.  At McNamara Phelan McSteen, LLC, our Will County, IL personal injury lawyers have over a century and a half of legal experience, which means we are well-prepared to investigate a bedsore injury claim.

How Do Bedsores Develop? 

Simply put, bedsores happen when someone is sitting or lying for too long in the same position. A person’s body weight puts pressure on whichever part of their body is touching a bed or a wheelchair, and when that person cannot move often enough, blood supply is cut off to the compressed part of the body and sores can develop. Bedsores are classified into four stages: 

• Stage one bedsores involve only the first layer of skin and symptoms include itching, burning, or pain. The bedsore may look softer, firmer, redder, or feel warm to the touch. 
• Stage two bedsores have developed into small but open wounds that are quite painful. 
• Stage three bedsores develop deeper pits in the skin because damage to the lower level of skin is so severe. 
• Stage four bedsores involve significant, visible wounds and damage to underlying muscles, bones, or joints. Patients with stage four bedsores are at the highest risk of life-threatening infections. 

Clear documentation of how a bedsore progressed can support an injury claim. Our firm can gather witness statements, medical records, photographs, and other supporting evidence.

What Do Bedsores Look Like? 

While the appearance of a bedsore differs depending on its stage, if you find raw, red spots or open wounds on your loved one’s body, that is a warning sign that something could be wrong. If your loved one complains of pain with no clear cause, you may want to check parts of their body that are susceptible to bedsores, including the back of their elbows, ankles, head, and hips. If you visit your loved one for several hours and no staff appear to help them reposition, there may also be cause for concern.

Are Nursing Homes Liable for Bedsores?

Nursing homes in Illinois can be held liable for bedsores resulting from poor care. Most bedsores can be prevented. Staff are supposed to turn residents who cannot move on their own. They also need to keep each resident’s skin clean and dry and make sure the person gets enough food and water. When a facility skips these basic steps, sores can form and quickly get worse.

Illinois law holds nursing homes responsible for harm caused by their staff. Under the Nursing Home Care Act, the owner or licensee of a facility is liable when its employees injure a resident through intentional acts or careless mistakes. In other words, the facility itself can be held accountable when an aide fails to do his or her job.

Not every bedsore is a sign of neglect. Some residents are very ill, and their skin may break down even with good care. Still, a pressure ulcer that reaches stage three or four raises concerning questions. Did staff check the resident’s skin each day? Did they tell a doctor about the wound? Did they change the care plan once the sore appeared? Medical charts, care plans, and staff notes can help answer these questions.

What Is a Bedsore Injury Claim Worth in 2026?

The severity of the wound is one of the biggest factors in estimating the value of an injury claim. A deep, stage four sore often requires surgery, long hospital stays, and months of wound care. These costs can add up fast. Infections make things worse. Some bedsores lead to bone infections or sepsis, which can be life-threatening.

A claim can also include losses that do not come with a bill. Bedsores can be very painful. Many residents feel embarrassed, scared, or helpless as the wound grows. Pain, suffering, and emotional distress can all be part of a claim. If a bedsore contributes to a resident’s death, the family may be able to file a wrongful death claim.

Under Illinois law, a resident who wins a claim may also recover attorney fees and costs. This can help families pursue a case without losing a large share of the recovery to legal bills.

Does Understaffing Increase the Risk of Bedsores?

Preventing pressure sores takes time and steady attention. Residents who cannot move need to be turned on a regular schedule, often every two hours. They may need help with bathing, changing, and eating. When one aide has too many residents to keep track of, these tasks are often rushed or skipped.

Tired and overworked staff are more likely to make mistakes. They may miss early signs of a sore, like red or warm skin. They may leave a resident in soiled sheets for too long, which can break down the skin. High staff turnover can also cause problems. New or temporary workers may not know which residents need extra care.

Some nursing homes cut staff to save money. This is not an excuse for improper care, especially when it results in worsening health conditions. Staffing schedules, time records, and state inspection reports can show whether a facility had enough workers on each shift. The Illinois Department of Public Health inspects nursing homes and publishes its findings. These reports may reveal a history of staffing shortages or past bedsore problems. Our firm can review this information to help show how short staffing played a role in your loved one’s injury.

Speak with a Joliet, IL Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer

If you suspect your loved one is suffering from neglectful treatment in their nursing home, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Contact an experienced Will County, IL bedsore injury attorney with McNamara Phelan McSteen, LLC to schedule a free consultation. Call us today at 815-727-0100.