Pressure ulcers typically develop when skin and underlying tissue are exposed to continuous pressure, shear, and moisture, particularly for residents who can’t reposition themselves. When a sore appears, it often signals a failure in one or more daily safeguards—such as:
- consistent repositioning and turning
- routine skin checks
- moisture management
- appropriate support surfaces
- timely escalation when early redness appears
In a nursing home context, the legal question usually isn’t “did a sore occur?” It’s whether the facility recognized the resident’s risk and responded in a timely, clinically appropriate way.


