Two years after her mother’s passing, a woman is speaking out about the pressure sores and alleged neglect which she says lead to the death of her mother.

According to Paula S., a New Zealand citizen, her mother died from complications due to poorly treated pressure sores. After being in a rest home for three years, Paula’s mother, Rosalie C., began deteriorating.

After falling and fracturing her femur, Rosalie was allegedly malnourished and dehydrated because her caretakers did not compensate for the limitations brought on by her severe dementia. When they brought her food, says her daughter, Rosalie didn’t know how to react with it. Instead of changing their approach to help her, they allegedly assumed she wasn’t hungry or thirsty.

Rosalie reportedly spent hours in a chair but was not provided support, causing her to slide down the back of the chair and develop pressure sores on her lower back. She was given a special mattress topper to ease the pressure and encourage healing. However, the topper was allegedly removed before her would healed because another resident needed it.

Due to her dementia and incontinence, she needed regular cleaning. However, her daughter Paula claims that the staff didn’t seem to know how to wash and treat her pressure sores. The skin broke down and became affected, allegedly leading to sepsis. As her mother deteriorated and the sepsis infection worsened, Paula made the heartbreaking decision to stop life support.

Initially, Paula did not file a formal complaint against the nursing home because they had apologized. However, in 2014, two years after her mother’s death, another resident died under similar circumstances. The resident had pressure sores on her back and, despite the staff noticing them getting worse, a specialist was allegedly not called. After the staff found her unresponsive, she was taken to the hospital for surgery where she died from septic shock.

An astonishing 14 percent of facilities in New Zealand had recent and significant failures related to pressure sores and wound care. Pressure sores normally develop on bony parts of the body or places where medical equipment contacts skin. Individuals with reduced mobility, such as nursing home residents, are at an increased risk. In severe cases, ulcers can expose muscle, tendon, or bone.

Because pressure sores are easily preventable by proper care, they can be a clear warning sign of nursing home neglect. Nursing home neglect is a global problem that affects people over the age of 60. In New Zealand, where Paula lives, citizens and advocates are pressing Health Minister David Clark to take action against nursing home neglect. In America, an estimated 5 million elderly citizens are affected by nursing home neglect.

If you have noticed signs of nursing home neglect, such as pressure sores, it is imperative that you report your suspicions to the authorities. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or the local police for help. Additionally, a nursing home neglect hotline or an elder law attorney can provide further tools.

If you or a loved one were the victim of nursing home neglect at the hands of a caretaker, you may qualify for legal action. Compensation from a nursing home neglect legal claim could cover medical costs, pain and suffering, wrongful death, and more.