CALL TODAY
Making the decision to place a loved one in a nursing home is not usually easy. Finding a home that suits their needs and that holds itself to the highest standards is the next difficult decision. A nursing home is expected to provide services that range from daily care to medical care. When a nursing home is found to be abusing its residents it is devastating. Two of the most common forms of nursing home abuse are dehydration and malnutrition. In the United States, over 14,000 nursing home residents have died from this mistreatment. These are serious claims that deserve to be prosecuted.
Get started with a free initial consultation; call 954-509-1900 or contact us online.
Staying properly hydrated becomes more difficult as a person ages. Dehydration is likely to occur from illness, medication side effects, and even from simply decreasing fluid intake. For an elderly person dehydration can also occur from the physiological changes from aging. In a nursing home the residents heavily rely on the caretakers to monitor and assist with their fluid levels and intake. The results from a study done in 1999 showed that out of 40 residents studied; only one was properly hydrated. The lack of proper hydration is often the result of caretakers who either forget to monitor fluids or simply refuse to perform the necessary tasks. This is obvious neglect, when many of the signs of dehydration are easily recognizable; such as thirst, dry skin, and dark urine.
In a nursing home, malnutrition does not usually occur because of lack of food. Malnutrition is most likely to occur because of under-served portions, mishandled food, and when a resident is unable to feed them without assistance. Many times feeding tubes are used when a resident cannot feed themselves. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, hundreds of nursing homes are cited every year for improper feeding methods and feeding tube insertion. The effects of malnutrition can be irreversible for the elderly. Signs of malnutrition include weight loss, bloated abdomen, and swollen or bleeding gums. These signs should not ever be missed by nursing home caregivers.
Dehydration and malnutrition are serious illnesses. With the proper monitoring and care from nursing home staff, they should only rarely occur. Those care givers that are neglecting residents should be held accountable. If you or a loved one has been the victim of nursing home abuse seek justice and compensation by speaking to be nursing home abuse lawyer.
Contact us online or call 954-509-1900 to learn more during a free, confidential consultation.
If you or someone you love has been harmed by the negligent or wrongful conduct of another, our South Florida personal injury attorneys are here to help you understand your legal options and fight for the fair recovery you deserve. In every instance, we work to recover the maximum compensation our clients are owed for their medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. Throughout the process, we will remain consistently accessible to you—we even provide clients with our personal contacts so that they can always reach us with questions or concerns.
There is absolutely no cost and no obligation in speaking to a member of our team about your case. We also offer our legal services on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not owe any upfront costs when you hire our team. Instead, we only collect legal fees if we successfully secure a settlement or verdict for you.
Whether you have questions or you’re ready to get started, our legal team is ready to help. Complete our form below or call us at (954) 289-5070.
