Stop EA announces new coalition to debunk the myths of pressure sores in the elderly and prosecute these cases in California courts.
Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) April 23, 2014 -- STOP EA (Elder Abuse) recently announced a collation of three experienced elder abuse attorneys who have announced they will focus on educating the public and prosecuting elder neglect cases in California, especially those involving the development of pressure sores on residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Pressure sores, more commonly known as bedsores, are a sign of elder abuse or neglect of a patient in a nursing home or assisted living facility. Pressure sores on patients in nursing homes, hospice care and assisted living facilities are almost always preventable with proper care.
STOP EA, a campaign intended to raise awareness in California around the dangers of elder abuse and to seek justice for families whose loved ones have been neglected in these facilities, is reminding the public to be aware of the symptoms of pressure sores and spreading the word that they are preventable and almost always a sign of neglect.
"Some of the signs of elder abuse are very obvious, others are not. Knowing what to look for and learning what questions to ask can help you know for sure," said Jay Renneisen, a STOP EA attorney. "Pressure sores are not a natural part of the aging process and are preventable with proper care. Proper care requires well-staffed, well-trained and properly supervised caregivers, who understand the potential for bedsores and how to address skin issues in frail elderly patients.”
According to the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, there are six types of pressure sores on the skin. Stages 1-4, unstageable, and deep tissue injury:
• Stage 1: intact skin with non-blanchable redness of a localized area usually over a bony prominence;
• Stage 2: partial thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red pink wound bed, without slough;
• Stage 3: full thickness tissue loss;
• Stage 4: full thickness tissue loss with exposed bone, tendon or muscle;
• Unstageable: full thickness tissue loss in which actual depth of the ulcer is completely obscured by slough (yellow, tan, gray, green or brown) and/or eschar (tan, brown or black) in the wound bed; and
• Deep Tissue Injury: purple or maroon localized area of discolored intact skin or blood-filled blister due to damage of underlying soft tissue from pressure and/or shear.
According to the National Institute of Health, there are several steps caregivers should take to prevent pressure sores. Some of those include regularly repositioning patients, using pressure relieving devices, and ensuring proper hydration and nutrition. Use our resources at STOP EA to learn more about pressure sores.
STOP EA encourages the public to use this information to protect family members and friends who may be in a nursing home or assisted living facility.
Those who are concerned about the quality of care their loved ones may be receiving in one of these facilities can obtain a free, private case evaluation from STOP EA by calling 1-866-864-1800.
For more information on the STOP EA campaign, how to report elder abuse, identifying symptoms of neglect, and informational videos, visit stopea.org.
STOP EA Contact / Spokesperson: Jay Renneisen 1-866-864-1800.
Jay Renneisen, Stop EA, http://stopea.org, +1 916-442-6000, [email protected]
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