Pressure ulcers (often called bedsores) don’t always appear suddenly. Many Sussex families first notice warning signs during routine visits—such as a new patch of redness, a scab that won’t heal, increased pain during transfers, or a sudden change in mobility.
Common “how it’s discovered” situations we see include:
- The turning schedule wasn’t followed consistently (noticed after longer stretches between visits)
- Skin checks were incomplete or delayed, especially when residents appear “stable” day-to-day
- Wound care changed slowly despite worsening appearance
- Care plans didn’t match what staff were actually doing (documentation gaps)
- Infection concerns were raised late, after the ulcer progressed beyond early stages
When pressure ulcers develop, the question isn’t just “what happened to the skin?” It’s whether the facility recognized risk, implemented prevention, and responded appropriately when early signs appeared.


