Ensuring that a patient is properly fed and hydrated is one of the essential responsibilities of nursing homes and other care facilities. Nevertheless, a shocking number of people suffer from dehydration and malnutrition in Kissimmee nursing homes.
The experienced elder abuse attorneys at Colling Gilbert Wright hold nursing homes accountable for their neglect. Our lawyers have obtained verdicts and settlements exceeding $1 million in several cases where malnutrition, dehydration, and their secondary impacts led to a nursing home patient’s death. Our firm’s reputation for professionalism and success leads other attorneys and professionals to refer their loved ones and clients to us.
Inadequate Nutrition and Hydration Signify Neglect
Malnutrition and dehydration are known risks associated with residing in a nursing home. Many medications suppress the appetite or thirst, cause stomach upset, or leave a bad taste in the mouth. Patients also may lose their appetite due to depression, limited physical activity, or unpalatable food. Sometimes issues with joint mobility, hand strength, hand/eye coordination, or swallowing discourage a patient from eating or drinking enough.
A facility providing proper care would monitor the patient’s weight and urine output to assess whether they are getting sufficient nutrition and liquids. They would closely observe the patient for common signs of dehydration, like sunken eyes, tenting skin, dark urine, swollen tongue, and slow wound healing. Attentive staff would report any concerns to the patient’s attending physician immediately.
Many facilities do not have enough adequately trained staff to properly monitor the patients’ food and liquid intake. Patients who require assistance to eat or drink may not get the help they need. If you believe a loved one is not getting proper nutrition and hydration, complain in writing to the nursing home administrator and contact one of our Kissimmee attorneys for advice.
The Impact of Inadequate Nutrition and Hydration
When a nursing home patient becomes malnourished or dehydrated, their condition can trigger a host of other health complications. Because the health of most nursing home patients is already compromised, the additional stress of poor nutrition or hydration can lead to death from other causes.
Bedsores are always a risk for patients with limited mobility. When a bed-bound patient is also dehydrated, their skin may lose elasticity and become more fragile and brittle. Bedsores may develop more easily and worsen more quickly. Kissimmee lawyers at The Florida Firm have represented several families whose loved ones died in nursing homes due to bedsores exacerbated by malnutrition and dehydration.
Other conditions associated with inadequate nutrition and hydration can lead to serious problems in nursing home patients. Balance can be affected, increasing the risk of falls, and bones may become more brittle, increasing the likelihood that a fall will cause a fracture. Malnutrition and dehydration can weaken the immune system, making the patient more susceptible to potentially fatal infections.
How Can You Hold a Negligent Nursing Home Accountable?
You may feel helpless if you know a loved one is suffering in a care facility. When directly confronting the home’s administrator about the situation has not produced results, it may be time to take legal action. Nursing homes providing inadequate care that causes patients unnecessary suffering from preventable conditions can be liable for damages in civil court. According to Florida Statutes § 95.11, you must bring a lawsuit within two years of the date you recognized that the patient was dehydrated or malnourished, or within two years of their death.
A Kissimmee attorney can review the nursing home patient’s medical records to identify indicators of neglect. The facility’s personnel records, training logs, and staff schedules might provide evidence that the facility was chronically understaffed or that staff lacked adequate training and supervision.
The patient or their loved ones can demand reimbursement of the money spent on medical care to treat the malnutrition and dehydration, and any secondary conditions that developed. If the patient died, the family could collect funeral expenses. The facility also must pay financial compensation for the pain and suffering the patient experienced because of the neglect.
Contact a Kissimmee Attorney if You Suspect a Nursing Home Patient Is Malnourished or Dehydrated
Dehydration and malnutrition in Kissimmee nursing homes are often preventable conditions that result from staff neglect. Take action to protect your loved one or hold the facility accountable for their death by bringing a lawsuit. You can work with us at The Florida Firm risk-free because we do not charge you unless we win, so schedule a free case evaluation today!