Malnutrition in a nursing home can be difficult to spot, especially if you don’t have any experience in health or nutrition. Nursing homes are legally responsible for residents’ physical well-being, including providing proper meals. Don’t be afraid to speak up about malnutrition as a form of neglect. Reporting it in nursing homes can save lives. Contact a Kansas City malnutrition attorney at Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger Norfleet for a free case consultation.
Signs of Malnutrition in Nursing Homes
Many cases of nursing home malnutrition go unnoticed. Family may chock it up to their loved one not having a good appetite or only being allowed to eat certain foods. Even with dietary restrictions, however, the law requires nursing homes to provide appropriate, healthy food for residents.
If your loved one is refusing to eat, take the time to find the source of the problem. Don’t assume the blame is on him or her—investigate the kind of food the nursing home supplies to residents. Don’t be afraid to ask employees for a list of ingredients in meals. If the food doesn’t have enough vitamins and minerals, it can be detrimental to the precarious health of many nursing home residents.
When you visit your loved ones, pay attention to their physical and emotional health. They might not complain about the food, but that doesn’t mean malnutrition isn’t happening. Common signs of malnutrition in nursing home residents are:
- Bright red mouths, canker sores, or thrush
- Muscular problems, such as flaccid or limp muscles
- More easily fatigued than usual
- Red or swollen corneas, glassy eyes, or diminishing vision
- Listlessness, irritability, and cognitive difficulties
- Dementia and confusion
- Yellowish or dull-colored skin with heavy wrinkling; the skin beneath fingernails may turn white
Malnutrition can occur in a few different ways: food might be withheld or given in smaller portions as a punishment in a case of abuse, it might not have the necessary nutritional value, or the nursing home may not give enough food to residents on a regular basis. Despite dietary restrictions, food in nursing homes should be adequately proportioned, full of vitamins and minerals, and appetizing. If your loved one is refusing to eat or showing signs of malnutrition, speak to a Kansas City nursing home abuse attorney right away.
Nursing Home Malnutrition Lawsuits
Although malnutrition in a nursing home may be difficult to notice, our nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys have represented dozens of victims of elderly malnutrition. When nursing home abuse and neglect comes into mind, you may not think of malnutrition. However, the sustenance a care facility gives your loved one can make or break a carefully balanced health situation.
The moment you suspect malnutrition as the cause of your loved one’s physical or emotional changes, contact an attorney. Time is precious in situations concerning the elderly, and an experienced Kansas City medical malpractice attorney can begin filing a lawsuit immediately. You can put the conduct of the nursing home staff on trial and get any negligence out into the open. Filing a lawsuit for your loved one can help save the other residents of a nursing home as well.
Do You Believe Your Loved One May Be Experiencing Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect in Kansas City, Missouri?
If you feel your loved one is being subjected to nursing home abuse or neglect you should speak with an experienced nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible. Please feel free to contact us online or call our office directly at 816.832.4688 to schedule your free consultation. We are proud to serve Kansas City, Missouri, and the surrounding area and look forward to speaking with you.