Bed sores: a nursing home danger

Last Updated: September 14, 2026

In Illinois a bedsore becomes a neglect case by proof: your family shows what care the nursing home failed to give and that the failure caused the wound. The wound itself, skin damaged by pressure that lasted too long, is where the questions start, and a nurse or physician who reviews the chart usually answers them.

“Mom has a sore on her heel. Does that mean the nursing home is neglecting her?” The question comes from someone who saw the wound during a visit and wants to know what it means. In Illinois the answer turns on proof: the family shows what care the facility failed to give and that the failure caused the wound. The wound itself starts the questions; the facility’s records answer them.

This article explains what a bedsore is, how a resident develops one, and what to do after a visit like that one. The firm’s longer article on the care plan and the records that answer the neglect question picks up from there, and a separate article covers sepsis in nursing home residents.

What is a bedsore?

A bedsore, also called a pressure sore or pressure injury, is an area of damaged skin caused by staying in one position for too long. When skin and the soft tissue under it press against a harder surface, such as a bed or a chair, for a prolonged time, the pressure reduces the blood supply to that spot. Without enough blood the tissue can become damaged or die (MedlinePlus, Pressure Sores; MedlinePlus, Preventing Pressure Injuries). Bedsores commonly form where bone is close to the skin: the heels and ankles, the hips, the tailbone, the elbows, the shoulder blades and the back of the head.

How does a nursing home resident develop a bedsore?

MedlinePlus lists the residents who are more likely to develop a pressure sore (How to Care for Pressure Sores):

residents who spend most of the day in a bed or a chair with little movement;
residents who cannot move parts of the body without help;
older adults, and residents with fragile skin;
residents who cannot control bladder or bowels;
residents who do not get enough nutrition.

The same source lists what prevents them (Preventing Pressure Injuries): changing position, relieving pressure with cushions, pads, or a foam, gel or air mattress, keeping the skin clean and dry, checking the skin every day, and enough calories, protein and water. In a nursing home those measures belong in each resident’s care plan. The early signs are redness that stays (harder to see on darker skin), skin that feels warm, spongy or hard, and a break in the top layer of skin. MedlinePlus says to contact a health care provider when they appear.

Ask the nurse on duty today what treatment the wound is getting and whether your parent’s doctor has been told, and write down the answer and the date. Then call 309-673-0069 and describe what you saw, when you saw it, and what the staff told you; you can call before you have any records.

Robert Parker reviews nursing home injury claims as part of the firm’s Peoria personal injury practice and personally handles every case the firm accepts. If a resident has died, the firm’s wrongful death page explains that claim.

Need a lawyer? This article is part of our Peoria Nursing Home Injury Lawyer practice area. Call Parker & Parker at 309-673-0069 for a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a bedsore, and where does it form on a nursing home resident?

A bedsore, also called a pressure sore or pressure injury, is an area of damaged skin caused by staying in one position for too long. It commonly forms where bone is close to the skin: the heels and ankles, the hips, the tailbone, the elbows, the shoulder blades and the back of the head (MedlinePlus).

Which nursing home residents are more likely to develop a bedsore?

Residents who spend most of the day in a bed or chair, cannot move without help, are older adults, have fragile skin, cannot control bladder or bowels, or do not get enough nutrition are more likely to develop one (MedlinePlus). In a nursing home the prevention measures for each resident are written into that resident’s care plan.

What should I do first after finding a bedsore on my mother in a Peoria nursing home?

Ask the nurse on duty what treatment the wound is getting and whether your mother’s doctor has been told, and write down the answer and the date. Request a copy of the care plan. Then call 309-673-0069 and describe what you saw; you can call before you have any records. In Illinois your family proves a neglect claim by showing what care the facility failed to give and that the failure caused the wound.