What Is The Braden Scale?

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What Is The Braden Scale?

The Braden Scale is a widely used clinical tool for assessing a person’s risk of developing pressure ulcers (bedsores). It helps healthcare providers evaluate specific risk factors and implement preventive measures to avoid skin breakdown, particularly in vulnerable populations like elderly patients or those with limited mobility.

Pressure ulcers are serious medical complications that typically happen because of nursing home neglect. If your loved one has suffered this type of injury, then you need legal representation. Contact a nursing home abuse lawyer today to learn more about your legal rights and how to protect them after a loved one survives nursing home neglect.

Continue reading to learn more about what the Braden Scale is and how to use it to determine if your loved one has suffered from nursing home neglect.

Symptoms of a Pressure Ulcer?

There are some clear signs that a nursing home resident is suffering from a pressure ulcer. Here are the common symptoms of a pressure ulcer:

  • Swelling
  • Changes in skin color or skin texture
  • Areas of the skin that feel cooler or warmer than other areas
  • Drainage

Causes of Pressure Ulcers

Pressure ulcers, or bedsores, are generally caused by nursing home neglect. Residents forced to sit in moisture, sweat, urine, or stool are at high risk of developing a pressure ulcer. Additionally, the traction from sitting in a bed or a wheelchair can cause a pressure ulcer.

What Is The Braden Scale?

The Braden Scale is an assessment tool used to determine a nursing home resident’s risk of developing a pressure ulcer. It is a validated tool designed to assess a patient’s risk of developing a pressure ulcer due to nursing home neglect.

The Braden Scale has six subscales to assess risk. The subscales are rated, with the lower scales indicating a higher risk of developing pressure ulcers.

Nutrition

Nutrition is important in evaluating a resident’s risk of injury while living in a nursing home. Evaluators assess nutrition risk in the following ways:

  • Very Poor- one
  • Probably Inadequate- two
  • Adequate- three
  • Excellent- four

Mobility

The Braden Scale measures a resident’s mobility. The Braden Scale evaluates the mobility factor as follows:

  • Completely immobile- one
  • Very limited- two
  • Slightly limited- three
  • No limitations- four

Activity

A resident must have activity to avoid pressure ulcers. The Braden Scale evaluates activity as follows:

  • Bedfast- one
  • Chairfast- two
  • Walks occasionally- three
  • Walks frequently- four

Moisture

Excessive moisture after an accident can cause serious pressure ulcers. Braden Scale evaluates the risk for pressure ulcers because of the resident’s moisture in the following ways:

  • Constantly moist- one
  • Often, most- two
  • Occasionally moist- three
  • Rarely moist- four

Sensory Perception

The Braden Scale evaluates a resident’s sensory perception in the following ways:

  • Completely limited- one
  • Very limited- two
  • Slightly limited- three
  • No impairment- four

Friction and Shear

The Braden Scale evaluates risk by reviewing friction and shear in the following ways:

  • Problem- one
  • Potential problem- two
  • No apparent problem- three

Consequences of a Pressure Ulcer

Pressure ulcers can have significant consequences for patients and healthcare systems. These consequences range from physical health to emotional, social, and financial impacts.

Physical Health Consequences

Pressure ulcers can lead to various complications, some of which can be life-threatening. Examples of some of the physical consequences can include cellulitis, sepsis tissue necrosis, pain, and chronic wounds that might heal slowly or lead to long-term health issues.

Psychological and Emotional Consequences

Pressure ulcers have emotional consequences. The patient might feel frustration, anxiety, or depression related to their condition. Victims might suffer from social isolation, and embarrassment about the wound or odors can lead to withdrawal from social interactions. The emotional burdens of pressure ulcers can make daily activities difficult.

Financial Consequences

Treatment for pressure ulcers is expensive, often involving wound care supplies, medications, and healthcare provider visits. Nursing homes or healthcare facilities may face lawsuits related to neglect if pressure ulcers develop under their care.

Impact on the Healthcare System

Pressure ulcers might cause increased workloads. Nurses and caregivers spend significant time managing pressure ulcers, which can divert resources from other patients. Facilities known for high rates of pressure ulcers may lose credibility.

Other Consequences

Families of patients with pressure ulcers may experience emotional and financial stress while assisting with care. Patients may become more reliant on caregivers due to mobility limitations.

If your loved one has suffered from a pressure ulcer, you might need a bedsores lawyer to discover your legal right to recover compensation for their losses.

What Is Nursing Home Neglect?

Nursing home neglect is a form of elder abuse that occurs when a nursing home or its staff fails to provide proper care to residents, leading to harm, discomfort, or diminished quality of life. Unlike active abuse, neglect is often unintentional but can be equally harmful. It involves a breach of duty to meet residents’ basic needs, such as food, shelter, hygiene, medical care, and safety.

Personal hygiene neglect is one form of nursing home neglect. Failing to assist residents with bathing, grooming, dental care, and laundry or leaving residents in soiled clothing or bedding for extended periods can be considered nursing home neglect. If nursing home staff ignore signs of pressure ulcers, then they might face legal liability for nursing home neglect.

Legal and Ethical Implications of Nursing Home Neglect

Nursing homes have a legal and ethical obligation to provide residents with standard care. Neglect may violate state and federal regulations, including the Nursing Home Reform Act, which mandates quality care and residents’ rights. Families can file complaints, seek investigations, or pursue legal action for neglect.

How Common Is Nursing Home Neglect?

Nursing home neglect is a serious and, unfortunately, common issue. While exact prevalence rates vary depending on the source, studies and reports consistently highlight that neglect in long-term care facilities is a widespread problem, affecting residents’ physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.

What Causes Nursing Home Neglect?

There are many major causes of nursing home neglect, including the following:

Lack of Oversight

Poor management or insufficient government regulation can allow neglect to go unnoticed.

High Turnover Rates

Frequent staff changes disrupt continuity of care.

Inadequate Training

Staff may lack proper training to care for residents with complex medical or emotional needs.

Understaffing

Many facilities operate with inadequate staff-to-resident ratios, leading to neglect of basic care.

Why Is The Braden Scale Assessment Important?

The Braden Scale is an important tool because it protects nursing home regulations. A Braden Scale evaluation helps a nursing home facility tailor a treatment plan to the individual. Using the individualized care plan helps reduce the occurrence of pressure ulcers while living in a nursing home.

A Braden Scale evaluation gives facilities the data they need to avoid hospital stays. Pressure ulcers are serious and can lead to prolonged hospital stays and large healthcare costs.

The Braden Scale also allows the resident’s medical team to identify high-risk patients and take preventive measures promptly.

Healthcare providers use the Braden Scale to guide preventive care measures, including the following:

Monitoring

The Braden Scale allows healthcare professionals to inspect the skin regularly for early signs of pressure ulcers to ensure that residents are safe and healthy during their stay in the facility.

Nutrition Support

The risk assessment provided by the Braden Scale gives healthcare providers insight into ensuring that the residents are getting adequate protein and calorie intake.

Skin Care

Keeping skin clean and dry is important to prevent pressure ulcers in nursing home residents. The Braden Scale helps providers know how to care for the resident’s skin, including when to apply barrier creams.

Specialized Bedding

Some nursing home residents need specialized bedding to remain comfortable and to avoid pressure ulcers. The Braden Scale allows nursing home caretakers to get residents the pressure-relieving mattresses or cushions needed to be more comfortable.

Frequent Repositioning

Nursing homes should regularly turn immobile patients every two hours to relieve pressure. Failing to reposition patients can easily lead to a pressure ulcer.

How Can a Nursing Home Neglect Attorney Help Me?

A nursing home neglect attorney can provide essential support and experience if you or a loved one has experienced neglect in a nursing home. These legal professionals focus on cases involving elder abuse and neglect, helping families hold negligent facilities accountable and seek justice for the harm caused. Here is how a nursing home neglect attorney can support you:

Evaluate the Case

An attorney will assess the situation. An attorney will review the facts of your case, including medical records, photos, and witness statements, to determine if neglect occurred. They will assess whether the nursing home or its staff breached their duty of care and if that negligence caused harm.

Investigating the Neglect

An attorney will help by investigating the cause of the neglect. Attorneys gather vital evidence, such as medical records and reports, staff schedules and training documents, maintenance logs and inspection reports, and surveillance footage, if available. An attorney might speak with staff, other residents, or family members who observed the neglect.

File Claims or Lawsuits

An attorney can negotiate with the nursing home’s insurance company to secure a fair settlement. If you cannot settle, they will file a lawsuit seeking compensation for damages.

Seek Compensation

Your personal injury lawyer will seek financial compensation if your family member suffers from nursing home neglect. An attorney will calculate the full scope of damages and pursue compensation for:

Economic Damages

Economic damages are tangible accident-related losses. Examples of economic losses after nursing home neglect include medical expenses, costs of relocating to another facility, and funeral and burial expenses in wrongful death cases, for example.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are non-quantifiable accident-related losses. Examples of non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life.

Punitive Damages

In cases of egregious misconduct, the attorney may pursue punitive damages to punish the facility and deter future neglect.

Navigate Legal Complexities

Nursing home neglect cases involve federal and state laws, including state-specific elder abuse statutes. An attorney ensures compliance with these laws. They will identify all liable parties, including the nursing home, its staff, or third-party contractors.

Represent You In Court

If your case goes to trial, the attorney will present evidence effectively, cross-examine witnesses, and advocate for maximum compensation.

Provide Emotional Support and Guidance

Nursing home neglect can be emotionally draining for the victim and their family. An attorney will handle the legal process, allowing you to focus on your or your loved one’s recovery. They will explain your rights and guide you through each step of the legal process. With their experience, you can rest assured that your case is in capable hands while you concentrate on healing.

Drive Accountability and Systemic Change

If nursing home neglect has impacted your family, seek out an attorney. Legal action can prompt nursing homes to improve policies, staffing, and training, reducing the likelihood of neglect for others. Taking action not only helps your case but also contributes to creating safer environments for future residents.

When Should You Contact a Nursing Home Neglect Attorney?

If nursing home neglect has impacted your family, seek out an attorney. Suppose you notice signs of neglect, such as unexplained injuries, bedsores, malnutrition, or poor hygiene. If a loved one has passed away under suspicious circumstances, you need an attorney. You will also need a nursing home neglect lawyer if the nursing home management fails to address your concerns.

How To Choose The Right Attorney

Choosing the right attorney can be hard. Consider the following traits before choosing an attorney to represent you.

  • Ensure the attorney is compassionate and attentive to your concerns.
  • Review their track record of settlements or verdicts.
  • Look for someone experienced in elder abuse and nursing home cases.

Contact a Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today!

Your family members deserve proper treatment while they are living in a care facility. Holding negligence nursing homes accountable for their actions is the only way to ensure their safety and the safety of other residents. You can help promote nursing home safety by asserting your rights after an injury. Contact an attorney to learn more about your family’s legal rights after an instance of nursing home neglect.