Malnutrition in Nursing Homes
There are many types of nursing home neglect and abuse, and malnutrition and dehydration can be some of the most dangerous forms of neglect. Nutrition includes proper hydration as well as a proper balanced diet. It also includes getting the right amount of vitamins, minerals, and water. Everyone needs a proper balance of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and carbohydrates, and when nursing homes fail to provide the patients in their care with the proper nutrition, the results can be devastating.
Poor nutrition can cause fatigue, slips and trips, bone breaks, and even death. Many nursing home patients are already in poor health, and unfortunately, malnutrition can push them towards death. Additionally, malnutrition can make diseases and viruses more likely.
Nursing homes should work with nutritionists and doctors to prepare the diet for each and every patient from day one. In addition to diet, nursing homes should review all the reasons an elder patient might not eat such as bed dentures, missing teeth, emotional problems, inability to swallow, adverse drug medications, and illness.
Patients should be checked for hair loss, weight loss, mouth cracks, and other symptoms of not eating well.
Contact our firm for Nursing Home Malnutrition Advice
If you or someone you know is not being fed properly at a nursing home facility, Joe Miller Law, can help. Malnutrition should not happen in nursing homes, and at Joe Miller Law, we can fight to hold those responsible for nursing home abuse and neglect accountable for their inexcusable actions. Call us today at (888) 694-1671 to learn more about what we can do for you and your family in this horrible situation.