Malnutrition in Nursing Homes

While not as obvious as a fall or the presence of bed sores, malnutrition in nursing homes can result in severe health complications, including death. If your loved one is showing signs of malnutrition or neglect, it is crucial to seek the advice of a dedicated personal injury attorney. Malnutrition in nursing homes should never happen, contact us today.

At The Law Offices of John M. McCabe, P.A., in Cary, North Carolina, we are committed to achieving justice for the victims of nursing home abuse and negligence in the Raleigh/Durham area. Since 1994, we have been doing what you had hoped the nursing home would do for your loved one: we treat our clients like family.

What is Malnutrition?

According to the Nursing Home Abuse Center, "malnutrition is defined as getting too much or too little nutrients for basic levels of health. As demographics shift and the number of elderly increases, so does the number of cases of malnutrition in nursing home facilities." Additionally, 85% of the elderly living in nursing homes suffer from malnutrition.

Signs Of Physical Malnutrition in Nursing Homes

Often, malnutrition does not become evident until a patient is treated at the hospital for a condition caused or exacerbated by malnutrition. If you sense that your loved one is not being fed or is not having his or her nutritional needs met, there are several symptoms you can look for, including:

• Weakness and fatigue
• Dental Issues
• Abnormal skin color
• Disorientation or other alterations of mental state
• Increased sickness caused by a weakened immune system

As with most nursing home issues, the primary cause of malnutrition is negligence or cruel indifference on behalf of the nursing home and its staff. When clients are given the proper amount of personal attention, fed promptly, and medically evaluated, malnutrition will not occur.

Signs of Mental Malnutrition

Many people do not realize that mental illness can contribute to or cause malnutrition. Depression and dementia are the most common causes of mental malnutrition. These illnesses can decrease someone's appetite, causing a loss of essential nutrients. Approximately 86% of nursing home residents with advanced dementia have eating problems.

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