A pressure ulcer is a bedsore caused by prolonged pressure on the skin.

"Pressure" means body weight cutting off blood flow, usually where bone presses against a mattress, chair, cast, or medical device. "Ulcer" means the skin and tissue have been damaged enough to break down, sometimes reaching muscle or bone. These wounds often form on the hips, tailbone, heels, ankles, or elbows, especially when a person cannot move easily on their own. Older adults, people with paralysis, residents who are undernourished or dehydrated, and anyone left too long in one position face higher risk. A pressure ulcer may start as redness that does not fade, then turn into an open wound, infection, or even sepsis.

In a nursing home or care setting, a pressure ulcer can be a warning sign of neglect. Staff are expected to assess risk, reposition residents, keep skin clean and dry, provide nutrition and hydration, and get medical treatment quickly. A preventable bedsore can point to understaffing, poor training, bad charting, or failure to follow a care plan.

For an injury claim, records matter: wound staging, photos, turning schedules, staffing logs, and hospital notes can help prove negligence or medical malpractice. In Hawaii, the state's modified comparative fault rule applies: under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 663-31 (2024), recovery is barred if the injured person is found more than 50% at fault. Facilities sometimes try to blame a frail resident for not moving enough; that is a trap worth examining closely.