What Are The Risk Factors For Malnutrition And Dehydration In Nursing Homes?
Both malnutrition and dehydration deprive the body of essential nutrients. There are many risk factors that can cause malnutrition and dehydration in nursing home residents.
All nursing homes must provide residents with frequent, nutritious meals. This involves curating meal plans to meet one’s needs and monitoring their health condition. If your loved one suffered harm while in a care facility, you have legal options.
Malnutrition Comes with Many Risk Factors in Nursing Homes
In general, seniors are at a greater risk of suffering malnutrition than younger adults. Common malnutrition risk factors in the elderly include:
What Are the Symptoms of Malnutrition?
A rapid loss in weight is the most obvious sign of malnutrition. However, it’s important to spot the less obvioussigns of malnutrition, such as:
What Are the Consequences of Malnutrition?
Malnutrition doesn’t just result in weight loss and low energy. Those suffering from malnutrition recover from diseases slower and experience higher rates of mortality.
Nursing homes must offer the best standard of care to their patients. When they don’t, and patients suffer malnutrition, they can face liability for any resulting damages.
Dehydration Risk Factors in Nursing Homes
Dehydration, like malnutrition, presents a considerable risk to nursing home patients. Dehydration risk factors include:
Symptoms of Dehydration
Thesymptoms of dehydrationinclude:
When Should I Notify a Nursing Home Employee About Dehydration?
Minor cases of dehydration can typically be treated with water and rest. However, in more extreme cases, medical intervention may be necessary. Contact a medical professional if you notice these symptoms in your loved one:
Serious cases of dehydration can cause seizures, heat stroke, or even death. This makes prompt action crucial.
What Should I Do if My Loved One Suffers from Malnutrition or Dehydration?
If you suspect that your loved one is suffering from neglect in their nursing home, we recommend that you:
You Have Legal Options if Your Loved One Suffered Dehydration or Malnutrition
Malnutrition and dehydration come with countless risk factors. Yet, nursing homes should know about these factors when caring for patients. If your loved one suffered harm in a care facility, you have legal options.
You can partner withBrown & Barronon your injury case. Our nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers can evaluate your situation and implement a course of action. To begin your free, no-obligation case review with our team, call us now.