Nursing homes are meant to be places where older individuals who cannot care for themselves spend their remaining days under the care and supervision of individuals who will assist them and care for them in their day to day lives. There are many elements that go into the nursing home experience. Since individuals live there, it is also the place where they sleep, spend their free time, and eat. Almost all nursing homes prepare food for their patients.
Unfortunately, many homes fail to provide for the proper nutritional needs of their patients through these meals. While the meals themselves may not be nutritionally valuable, there are other reasons why a nursing home resident might suffer from malnourishment, including:
- Illness
- Tooth and mouth problems
- Trouble swallowing
- Need for feeding assistance
Attendants are supposed to be mindful of these potential roadblocks to proper nourishment and remedy them. Families of residents may be able to tell if their loved ones are suffering from malnutrition. In general, a malnourished individual will:
- Lose weight unexpectedly
- Look pale
- Seem forgetful
Should a family see these signs in a loved one, they should bring it to the attention of the home's staff, as the family's loved one may require extra attention. If malnutrition appears to remain or get worse after this, then the family may consider contacting legal authorities on suspicion of nursing home abuse.
After legal authorities investigate the problems, the family may choose to pursue legal action against the offending home in the form of a lawsuit. Before filing a lawsuit, though, the family should consult with an experienced lawyer.
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If your loved one is suffering abuse in an assisted living facility in the form of malnutrition or in any other manner, do not hesitate; hold the home accountable for the negligence of its employees. Visit the website of the Queens nursing home abuse attorneys of Parker Waichman Alonso, LLP for the information and assistance you need.
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