Sepsis in Nursing Homes

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can develop when infections go untreated. In many cases, sepsis in nursing homes is the result of neglect, poor hygiene, or delayed medical care. If your loved one developed sepsis while living in a nursing home, you may be eligible for compensation. See if a top nursing home lawyer can fight for the money and justice you deserve.

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Why Take Legal Action?

By filing a nursing home neglect lawsuit, you can seek financial compensation and justice from those who caused you or a loved one harm.

Results Secured

$2.2 million for a Rhode Island resident who had a heart attack
$2 million for the family of a California patient with dementia who passed away due to negligence
$1.5 million for a woman in Minnesota with stage 4 bedsores

Written by: Rae Theodore

Last updated: Jun 13, 2025

Fact-Checked and Legally Reviewed by: Julie Rivers

Can You Sue a Nursing Home for Sepsis?

Yes, you may be able to sue a nursing home if you or a loved one developed sepsis due to neglect or inadequate care. Sepsis occurs when the body has an extreme response to an infection, leading to inflammation, organ failure, and even death if not treated promptly.

Care facilities have a duty to protect residents from preventable infections and provide timely medical treatment. When staff members fail to monitor a resident’s health, ignore signs of infection, or delay critical care, the facility may be held responsible.

By filing a sepsis nursing home lawsuit, you may be able to get compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and wrongful death if your loved one passed away. Taking legal action also sends a message to negligent facilities and may prevent harm to other residents.

LawFirm.com works with top nursing home neglect attorneys who have secured over $304 million for families, including for sepsis.

The nursing home lawyers in our network never charge any upfront costs and can help families in all 50 states. They handle all the work involved in a nursing home sepsis lawsuit, so you can focus on your loved one’s health and well-being.

Get a free case review now to see if an experienced nursing home sepsis attorney may be able to fight for your family.

Sepsis Lawsuit Settlements and Verdicts

Lawsuits for sepsis in nursing homes typically result in out-of-court settlements, especially when they involve clear evidence of nursing home negligence.

Nursing home settlements help families cover the costs of medical treatment, long-term care, or funeral expenses, and provide compensation for pain, suffering, and emotional distress.

Reported settlements for nursing home sepsis lawsuits include:

$2.85 million to the family of a 25-year-old man who developed sepsis and passed away after being treated at a pulmonary rehabilitation facility
$700,000 for the wrongful death of a 72-year-old woman in an Illinois facility who suffered dehydration, malnutrition, pressure ulcers, and sepsis
$500,000 on behalf of a 69-year-old resident who died from complications related to bedsores and a sepsis infection
Over $2.1 million to the family of a resident who developed sepsis from infected bedsores and passed away

Case values vary depending on the severity of the infection, whether it resulted in permanent injury or death, the victim’s medical expenses, and more. However, sepsis attorneys will carefully review the facts of your case and fight for maximum compensation.

Call (888) 726-9160 right now or chat with a case manager to see if a top lawyer may be able to pursue a settlement for sepsis in nursing homes on your behalf.

Steps for Filing a Nursing Home Sepsis Lawsuit in 2025

Families caring for a loved one with sepsis caused by care in a nursing home may feel like they don’t have the time or bandwidth to pursue legal action. However, an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer can handle all the legal work.

With a legal professional by your side, you’ll have peace of mind and be able to focus on your loved one’s health during this difficult time. Understanding the steps ahead can also make the legal process feel more manageable.

The process of filing a nursing home sepsis lawsuit involves:

Getting a free case review to see if you may be eligible to take legal action for sepsis in nursing homes
Gathering evidence, like your medical records, nursing home care logs, and witness testimony, to support your sepsis malpractice lawsuit
Filing your sepsis lawsuit case correctly and before any legal deadlines
Negotiating a settlement with the nursing home and any other at-fault parties to secure the most compensation as quickly as possible — without going to court
Representing you in court if a settlement for sepsis in nursing homes can’t be reached

Nursing home sepsis lawsuits have deadlines called statutes of limitations that limit how much time you have to take legal action. In most states, families have 2-3 years, but the deadline can be as short as 1 year in some areas.

To protect your eligibility for compensation, it’s important to reach out to a nursing home lawyer for sepsis as soon as possible. They can explain the deadline in your case and act quickly to ensure your nursing home sepsis lawsuit is filed in time.

Who Can File a Nursing Home Sepsis Lawsuit?

In most cases, a nursing home sepsis lawsuit can be filed by the resident themselves or their family members if the health condition was caused by neglect in a care facility.

Parties who may be able to file a lawsuit for sepsis in nursing homes include:

An injured resident who suffered sepsis due to nursing home negligence
Family members, like a spouse, child, or parent, if the resident is unable to advocate for themselves
The resident’s estate representative in the case of wrongful death

If your loved one developed sepsis in a nursing home and you believe poor care was to blame, you may be able to take legal action. A nursing home abuse lawyer can determine if you have a case and pursue compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.

Causes of Sepsis in Nursing Homes

Sepsis in nursing homes often develops as a result of untreated or poorly managed infections. Substandard infection control is more likely when nursing home staff are untrained or facilities are poorly managed.

Common causes of sepsis in nursing homes include:

Bedsores: When left untreated, bedsores, especially late-stage bedsores like those in stage 3 or stage 4, can become infected and lead to life-threatening sepsis.
Open wounds or surgical sites: Poor hygiene, inadequate wound care, or failure to monitor healing can result in infection.
Pneumonia and respiratory infections: Infections in the lungs can turn into sepsis if health care providers fail to diagnose and treat them promptly.
Poor sanitation and hygiene: Dirty conditions or neglect of personal hygiene increase the risk of sepsis in nursing homes.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs): Common in elderly residents, especially those with catheters, UTIs can quickly spread and cause sepsis, especially when infection prevention measures are lacking.
Weakened immune systems: Older adults, particularly those with chronic health conditions, are at a high risk of infections turning septic.

A sepsis protocol for nursing homes calls for the quick identification of symptoms, prompt treatment using antibiotics, and transfer to a hospital when necessary.

When nursing homes fail to provide proper care, it may be considered nursing home neglect. While suing a nursing home for neglect can’t erase the suffering your loved one has endured, it may make the road ahead a little easier by providing financial support.

Risk Factors for Developing Sepsis in a Nursing Home

Unfortunately, sepsis is common in nursing homes due to risk factors related to the care facilities themselves and the residents they serve.

Up to 3 million serious infections occur in long-term care facilities in the U.S. each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For example, residents may have chronic conditions or other health concerns that make them especially vulnerable to common infections. Additionally, facilities may be understaffed or lack qualified employees, which can increase the risk of sepsis in nursing homes.

Risk factors for developing sepsis in a nursing home include:

Advanced age: Older adults naturally have weaker immune systems, making it harder to fight off infections.
Chronic medical conditions: Illnesses like diabetes, kidney disease, or cancer can make residents more vulnerable to infection.
Immunosuppressive medications: Some treatments, including chemotherapy or steroids, weaken the immune system.
Limited mobility: Residents who are bedridden or use wheelchairs are more likely to develop bedsores and respiratory infections, which can lead to sepsis in nursing homes.
Malnutrition or dehydration: These conditions, often a warning sign of abuse, impair the body’s ability to fight infection and heal properly.
Poor hygiene: Failure to maintain cleanliness or address early signs of infection raises the risk of sepsis.
Recent surgeries or invasive procedures: Surgical wounds and medical devices (like catheters or feeding tubes) can be entry points for bacteria.

Early detection of sepsis in nursing homes is possible when facilities are properly managed and have trained staff to manage risk factors. Identifying sepsis in nursing homes early is crucial to getting patients the care they need and improving their chances of a full recovery.

If this medical emergency is not diagnosed or treated in time, you may be able to sue a nursing home for sepsis to pursue the compensation and justice you deserve. Get started now with a free case review.

Symptoms of Sepsis in Nursing Home Residents

Recognizing the signs of sepsis early can be the difference between life and death. Symptoms of sepsis can develop quickly and may be mistaken for other conditions common in the elderly.

Warning signs of sepsis in nursing home residents include:

Clammy or sweaty skin
Confusion or disorientation
Decreased urine output
Extreme fatigue or weakness
Fever, chills, or low body temperature
Low blood pressure
Pale or discolored skin
Rapid heart rate or breathing
Slurred speech

Because many nursing home residents already have complex health care needs, staff must act quickly when these symptoms appear. Delayed treatment can lead to personal injuries like septic shock, organ failure, or death.

When facilities fail to provide adequate care, they can cause or worsen serious injuries like sepsis. If that happens, a nursing home neglect lawyer for sepsis can step in and fight for the justice and compensation families deserve.

Get Help From a Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer for Sepsis

Families entrust long-term care facilities to provide their loved ones with the care they deserve. That includes keeping facilities clean, providing prompt treatment for infections, and taking extra precautions when patients have risk factors.

LawFirm.com believes that nursing homes should be held accountable when they fall short and harm those in their care.

We’ve partnered with nursing home law firms that:

Can help families in all 50 states
Don’t charge any upfront costs or hourly fees
Have secured over $304 million for victims

Call (888) 726-9160 right now or get a free case review to see if they may be able to fight hard for you.

Sepsis in Nursing Homes FAQs

What is the main cause of sepsis in nursing homes?

The main cause of sepsis in nursing homes is untreated or poorly managed infections, like urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumonia, or bedsores (pressure ulcers).

When these infections are not promptly identified and treated, they can spread throughout the body and trigger a life-threatening inflammatory response known as sepsis.

Neglect, understaffing, and lack of proper medical care in nursing homes often contribute to these infections going unnoticed or untreated. In these cases, a nursing home neglect lawyer may be able to help. See if we can connect you with a free case review.

How long can you survive with sepsis?

The length of time someone can survive with sepsis depends on how quickly they receive treatment and how severe the infection is. Without prompt medical care, sepsis can lead to organ failure and death within hours or days.

However, if treated early, usually with antibiotics, fluids, and sometimes hospitalization, many people recover.

What are the three stages of sepsis?

Sepsis progresses through three stages, each more severe than the last.

Sepsis: This occurs when the body responds to infection by triggering widespread inflammation. It’s characterized by a fever, elevated heart rate, fast breathing, and disorientation.
Severe sepsis: This level is marked by the start of organ damage, along with low blood pressure (hypotension).
Septic shock: A person reaches dangerously low blood pressure levels and experiences organ failure and tissue damage.

Recognizing and treating sepsis early is critical to preventing serious complications or death, especially in nursing home patients who may have chronic health conditions that make them frail.

Is sepsis curable in the elderly?

Yes, it’s possible to cure sepsis in an elderly patient, but sepsis is more likely to be fatal or have long-term consequences in someone who is older.

The key to treating and potentially curing elderly patients with sepsis is prevention and early detection, as well as aggressive treatment.

Is sepsis nursing home neglect?

Sepsis can be a sign of nursing home neglect if it results from an infection that was not properly prevented, identified, or treated.

Nursing homes have a duty to monitor residents’ health, maintain hygiene, and respond quickly to signs of illness. If a resident develops sepsis due to a facility’s failure to provide adequate care, it may be considered neglect and grounds for legal action.

Call (888) 726-9160 now or chat with a case manager to see if we may be able to help you file a nursing home sepsis lawsuit for compensation.

Fact-Checked and Legally Reviewed by: Julie RiversEldercare Advocate

Editor

Julie Rivers is a dedicated eldercare advocate with over 15 years of experience in nursing home neglect and abuse cases. Inspired by her mother’s battle with Alzheimer’s, she blends legal expertise and personal passion to support victims. An MBA graduate and active Alzheimer’s Association volunteer, Julie fights for better eldercare policies and justice for affected families.