Identifying, Remedying and Staff Accountability Strategies for Malnutrition
If your loved one must live in a nursing home for any number of reasons, the risk of neglect is probably at the top of your list of concerns. Unfortunately, malnutrition and dehydration are common issues in nursing homes. In a study in 2015, approximately 20% of nursing home residents had some form of malnutrition, with numbers undoubtedly under-representing the true issue, as many patients and their loved ones may not report out of fear. Our team of Greenville nursing home negligence attorneys at Christian & Christian can help if you are seeking compensation for complications of nursing home neglect such as malnutrition or dehydration. Your loved one deserves quality care, and nursing homes should be providing it, especially when so many of them are costly and boast exemplary care for elderly residents.
What to Look For and How to Remedy It
If you are worried about malnutrition or dehydration and you think your elderly loved one is suffering from either one, there are some signs that point to “yes.”
When you visit, check for signs, including:
- Weight loss
- Loose fitting clothing that fit well before
- False teeth no longer fit correctly
- Continuous complaints of being thirsty
- Dry, cracked lips or pale mouth
- Dark yellow or brown-ish tinted urine
- Infrequent or little urination
- Dry, bright red or cracking tongue
- Mouth tenderness, soreness, tooth loss or pain when chewing
- Thinning hair
- Disoriented or drowsy other than for a medical issue
- Loose, thin skin that feels dry and warm
All of the above signs can point to malnutrition and/or dehydration. As you take over your loved one’s well-being, part of your job is to monitor these signs and if they appear, to work with the staff to remedy them. Making sure that your loved one’s basic needs are met is something that all living things deserve.
- Ways you can remedy malnutrition and dehydration include:
- Work with staff to develop a hydration program or implement the use of an alternative to drinking water such as gummy water drops or other means of hydration
- Make sure your loved one has a cup that he or she can handle easily
- Bring in favorite snacks or meals during your visits
Although the privacy of your loved one may not allow for a special stash of favorite snacks, you may be able to work with staff to keep some on hand if you provide them. Unfortunately, holding nursing homes accountable for the care of your loved one can sometimes be more complicated than a simple conversation. In this case, it may require legal ramifications. Our team cares about the standard of living for the elderly in our community. We can help you make sure that nursing homes actually provide the care that they advertise.
Let Us Help You Help Your Loved One
When you are facing a battle with your loved one’s nursing home facility management, let us stand by your side. We have the knowledge and experience needed to hold nursing home staff and management responsible for their actions, and their neglect. Your loved one deserves to live a comfortable life as he or she ages, and you have the right to protect that care.
Request a free consultation at (864) 408-8883.