When your loved one is in a nursing home, you expect their care to be high-quality. Unfortunately, abuse and neglect can occur when you least expect it to, jeopardizing their health and well-being. Specifically, neglect involving malnutrition and dehydration can lead to elderly residents’ fast decline in health and can even have a fatal outcome.
Abuse and/or neglect are never acceptable and individuals in nursing homes have the right to be treated with respect and dignity. It is up to the staff to make sure that residents eat nutritious meals and drink enough water. When nursing home neglect occurs, it’s often recommended that you take immediate action. Below we’ll discuss the physical signs of malnutrition in adults, the health risks of dehydration and malnutrition, and how to prevent this neglect, as well as your legal options.
Understanding Malnutrition and Dehydration in Nursing Homes
Malnutrition in nursing homes occurs when a patient does not get enough food or adequate nutrients in their diet due to insufficient monitoring of proper nutrient consumption. Malnutrition can also be caused by the withholding of food by the healthcare provider. This nutritional deficiency can be extremely detrimental to an elderly resident’s health, and cause functional and cognitive impairment as well as depression, severe weight loss, and a weakened immune system. The resident may also suffer from extreme fatigue and frequent infections.
Dehydration is caused by insufficient intake of water and other fluids, and the patient loses more fluids than they take in. This can cause a disruption in the body’s ability to function. The complications of dehydration can lead to serious illnesses, especially when it is a frequent or chronic occurrence.
What Are the Signs of Malnutrition and Dehydration?
It’s crucial to recognize the signs of malnutrition and dehydration in order to intervene as soon as possible and to prevent further complications of this nursing home abuse. Some signs of malnutrition and dehydration include:
- Weakness and lack of energy
- Weight loss
- Dry skin
- Brittle hair and nails
- Dry mouth
- Disorientation and confusion
- Sunken eyes
- Bedsores
- Delayed wound healing
- Muscle weakness
- Frequent infections
- Decreased urine output
- Cognitive decline
- Low blood pressure
- Flushed skin
- Slurred speech
- Fainting spells
- Dry, cracked lips
Common Causes of Nutritional Neglect in Elderly Care
Several factors can contribute to malnutrition and dehydration in nursing home settings. These include:
- Attempts to cut costs — Serving low-quality food or limiting access to fluids in an attempt to save money may compromise residents’ nutritional well-being.
- Insufficient staffing — Understaffed nursing homes can result in inadequate feeding and hydration, especially for residents who require assistance.
- Medical conditions that are not addressed — Residents who have conditions, such as dementia or diabetes, may require customized diets.
- Insufficient monitoring — Inadequate supervision and monitoring of residents’ food and fluid intake, as well as their overall health, is also a form of neglect.
- Lack of proper staff training — Physical signs of malnutrition in adults may not be recognized by poorly trained staff, or staff may not understand the dietary needs of their elderly patients.
- Intentional neglect — In some cases, a staff member outright neglects their patients and purposely withholds food and/or water.
- Medication side effects — Certain medications can suppress appetite, cause nausea, or interfere with nutrient absorption, where the staff fails to adjust diets accordingly.
Health Risks Associated with Malnutrition and Dehydration
Malnutrition and/or dehydration can have severe consequences for elderly individuals, making existing health conditions worse. Residents who are prone to falls may experience an increased risk of falling due to the weakness caused by not getting adequate food or drink. If a resident suffers from dementia or a similar illness, malnutrition and/or dehydration may cause worsened cognitive function.
Patients who are prone to getting bedsores have an increased chance of developing these sores due to impaired skin integrity and reduced mobility. And, in severe cases of malnutrition and/or dehydration, they may need to be hospitalized, or worse — it may also become a primary contributing factor to their death.
Preventing Malnutrition and Dehydration in Nursing Facilities
Preventing malnutrition and/or dehydration in elderly nursing home residents requires a proactive and comprehensive approach. Adequately trained staff is crucial to good nursing home care. Staff should have proper knowledge of feeding techniques and hydration protocols and must also be able to recognize signs of malnutrition and dehydration early. Family and friends who may be visiting their loved ones in nursing homes also need to know these signs.
Monitoring residents’ weight, food and fluid intake, and overall health status can greatly help in identifying early signs of malnutrition and dehydration. Nursing home staff also need to provide palatable, nutritious meals that meet residents’ dietary needs and preferences.
Malnutrition and/or dehydration in nursing home residents is definitively inappropriate, and an experienced elder care lawyer can help you to get the justice that the resident deserves. Lipinski Law provides a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case. Call us at 561-220-8653 to schedule your free consultation. Your loved one has rights, and we will help you to navigate the legal system to protect vulnerable elderly individuals and get the justice that they deserve.
