When an elder is malnourished or dehydrated while residing in a nursing home, it may be enough to warrant neglect on the part of the facility. If you believe your loved one has been neglected, please call a Tennessee nursing home neglect lawyer from The Higgins Firm now.
The Duty of a Nursing HomeEvery nursing home has a duty to provide essential services to the residents living at the facilities. Sadly, a large number of them fail to do so for a number of reasons, including, improperly trained staff or understaffing. When it comes to neglect in a nursing home, the most common, yet overlooked, cases involve malnutrition or dehydration.
When a resident is not being fed on time, or with food that is not healthy, or is otherwise not being hydrated with enough liquids, they could face serious harm. If your loved one has been injured or died, and you believe malnourishment or dehydration has something to do with it, please call a nursing home neglect lawyer in Tennessee. At The Higgins Firm, we will listen to what you have to say and help you to make a sound decision on the next step you should take. Please do not delay in reaching out to our firm.
Malnutrition can take many forms. It goes beyond a resident not being fed, and can also include a failure to ensure the resident is getting enough minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and nutrients. In general malnourished nursing home patients are those who cannot feed themselves. Malnourishment could result from various factors, including:
Dehydration in a nursing home can result when the elder is not being given enough fluids. This tends to occur in patients who cannot walk or get to an area that offers liquids. The most common reasons for dehydration in a nursing home to occur, includes:
When a resident of a nursing home is malnourished or dehydrated, their immune system can weaken; thereby resulting in bed sores, infections, and cognitive problems. If these are not treated, the symptoms can become life threatening. As a family member of a loved one in a nursing home, it is important to be able to recognize the symptoms of malnutrition or dehydration; these include:
If you believe your elderly loved one, or someone you know, has been injured or died while residing in a nursing home, and you think malnutrition or dehydration could be the cause, you should notify the nursing home of your concern. If you believe they did not take you seriously, or you believe the situation is being covered up, please consult a nursing home lawyer in Tennessee.
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