Ellery Care data study
Texas nursing homes with the most bedsores
A pressure ulcer, or bedsore, is one of the clearest signals that a resident is not being turned, checked, and cared for often enough. Using CMS quality data (period 2025Q2-2026Q1), we looked at how often every rated Texas home reports a long-stay resident with a pressure ulcer.
Here is the good news first: the typical Texas home actually does better than the national average on bedsores, 3.3% against 4.2%. The concern is the tail. 118 Texas homes report rates at least double the state median. Below are the 25 highest rates in the state among homes large enough for the percentage to be meaningful. Of these 25 worst performers, 12 staff their floors below the Texas median and 20 are for-profit operators.
Why this matters
Bedsores start small, as a patch of red or tender skin, and can progress to deep, open wounds that reach muscle and bone. Advanced ulcers are painful, slow to heal, and prone to serious infection. The reason they matter so much as a quality signal is that most are preventable. A home that turns residents on schedule, keeps skin clean and dry, manages nutrition, and checks pressure points daily can stop the great majority of them before they form. A high rate suggests that basic hands-on care is slipping.
What to do if you are worried
Ask the home how often residents are repositioned and who is responsible for checking skin. Ask whether your parent has a skin-care plan and how the home documents any sore it finds. If you visit, look for signs that residents are moved and comfortable rather than left in one position for hours. If your parent already has a bedsore, ask to see the treatment plan and how often a nurse reassesses it.
How we built this
We used the long-stay pressure-ulcer measure from CMS MDS Quality Measures (period 2025Q2-2026Q1, retrieved 2026-08-09), the four-quarter-average share of long-stay residents with a pressure ulcer. We ranked Texas homes with at least 25 residents, so the percentage reflects a real pattern rather than one or two cases. Full details on our methodology page.
Common questions
What is a pressure ulcer, or bedsore?
A pressure ulcer, also called a bedsore or pressure injury, is damage to the skin and the tissue underneath it caused by staying in one position too long. They form over bony areas like the tailbone, hips, and heels. Most are preventable with regular repositioning, good nutrition, and attentive skin care, which is why CMS tracks them as a sign of care quality.
What is a normal bedsore rate for a Texas nursing home?
The median Texas home reports that about 3.3% of long-stay residents have a pressure ulcer, which is actually better than the national median of 4.2%. Rates at or above double the state median, roughly 6.6% and up, stand out as well above typical.
Are bedsores a sign of neglect?
Not always, and some residents with fragile skin or poor circulation are harder to protect. But a high rate, especially advanced sores, is a recognized red flag for understaffing and inattentive care. It is a fair thing to ask a home about directly, including how often residents are repositioned and how the home tracks skin health.
Checking on a specific home?
Every Texas nursing home report card shows its bedsore and serious-fall rates next to its staffing, inspection findings, and fines, with plain-English context.
Source: CMS MDS Quality Measures, long-stay pressure-ulcer measure, period 2025Q2-2026Q1, retrieved 2026-08-09. Ellery Care accepts no payment from any facility and is not affiliated with CMS. Educational information, not medical advice. Related: Texas nursing homes with the most resident falls.