Nursing Home Neglect and Sepsis

When we place the ones we love in nursing homes, we expect them to be well taken care of. Unfortunately, many nursing homes do not have enough staff or the staff are not properly trained. This leads to nursing home abuse and neglect. One type of nursing home abuse and neglect that can occur in nursing homes is sepsis. This is a serious infection that can cause the body’s organs to stop working if left untreated. If someone you love has developed sepsis while in a nursing home, then you should speak to one of our Tennessee nursing home sepsis lawyers with the Higgins Firm right away. We will be glad to review your case for free.

What are some of the reasons sepsis occurs?

The most common reason sepsis occurs is because of problems arising when a patient may have an infection. If a patient has any kind of infection, sepsis can occur. However, some types of infections can lead to sepsis more often than others. Some of these infections are:

• pneumonia
• infections of the stomach
• infections in the kidneys
• infections in the blood

Why are people in Nursing Homes more likely to get sepsis?

People who live in nursing homes are usually more likely to get sepsis as the result of an infection because their immune systems are often not as strong.  Also, elderly people may have other medical problems or use medical equipment such as breathing tubes and catheters which can increase their risk of getting sepsis. Finally, patients in nursing homes may be more likely to get sepsis because they may already have a bed or pressure sore that has not been treated properly by nursing home staff.

What are some common signs of sepsis to be aware of?

Sepsis can occur in three stages. It is a good idea to treat sepsis as early as possible to increase the chances of a person making a full recovery. If it goes untreated for too long a person may die as a result. Some signs that can occur in the first stage include:

• a fever over one hundred and one degrees or under ninety-five degrees Fahrenheit
• a heart rate that is ninety beats per minute or above
• fast breathing of more than twenty breaths in a minute
• an existing infection or the possibility of an infection
  

The signs of sepsis in the second stage include:

• trouble breathing
• stomach pain
• abnormally beating heart
• not urinating often enough
• mental impairment

The third or final stage of sepsis known as sepsis shock means that a person will have an unsafe drop in blood pressure that may be difficult to return to normal.

How can a Tennessee Nursing Home Sepsis Lawyer help me?

If your elderly loved one suffered from sepsis and you believe nursing home abuse or neglect is to blame, then you should contact one of our caring and experienced nursing home abuse and sepsis lawyers at the Higgins Firm as soon as possible. We know how difficult this must be for you and we will listen to your claim and answer any questions you may have. We will also help you to gather any evidence of abuse such as photos, medical reports and treatment, witnesses or anything else that may be needed for your case. We will then work on your behalf to make sure you receive the compensation you are entitled to for what you and your family have suffered. Finally, we will work to make sure the nursing home is held accountable for their negligence.

Please contact us today online or by calling 800.705.2121 to discuss your legal options.