In elder care, a pressure ulcer (also called a bedsore or pressure injury) can be an early warning sign that day-to-day care is falling short. In practice, these injuries may connect to issues such as:
- missed or late repositioning/turning
- inadequate skin checks during high-risk periods (after falls, illness, or hospitalization)
- delays in wound evaluation or changes to the care plan
- nutrition/hydration concerns that affect healing
- insufficient staffing coverage during shift changes and weekends
Even when a resident has medical conditions that increase risk, Massachusetts facilities are still expected to follow accepted standards of care and respond promptly when risk is identified.


