Pressure ulcers—commonly called bedsores—form when skin and tissue are exposed to sustained pressure, friction, or shearing. They can’t be treated like an inevitable part of aging.
In a properly managed care environment, facilities use risk assessments and individualized care plans to prevent ulcers from developing or from worsening. When prevention fails, it can show up in patterns such as:
- missed or late repositioning/turning
- incomplete skin checks or delayed recognition of early redness
- gaps between wound measurements and the care actions taken
- delayed escalation when a resident’s condition changes
A lawyer’s job is to connect the medical record to the standard of care and determine whether the facility’s actions (or lack of action) contributed to the ulcer.


