Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Blog

Studies have suggested that approximately one-third of all nursing home residents suffer from some form of dehydration or malnutrition, a condition that can cause or aggravate more serious medical conditions, and may be caused by elder abuse or neglect.

Much of the problem can be attributed to poor staffing, whether inadequate numbers of staff, poor staff training, and a lack of individualized care. While California law requires 3.2 hours of certified nursing per patient, per day - a minimum number many nursing homes fail to meet - many experts believe the law is inadequate, advocating for an increase to 4.1 hours per resident, per day.

Karen Davis of the Commonwealth Fund, the funder of a report on nursing home care, says, “malnutrition, dehydration, and weight loss in nursing homes constitute one of the largest silent epidemics in this country."

Any signs or symptoms of malnutrition, dehydration, or sudden weight loss should be promptly reported to the director of nursing, and the resident’s regular physician. Any other questions can be directed to Walton Barber LLP, who would be happy to answer any questions or concerns about nursing home care.

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Posted In: Dehydration , Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

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Dehydration in the nursing home can lead to significant complications, including death. If the human body is deprived of necessary fluids, several symptoms may appear, including an increased heart rate, decreased sweating, decreased urination, extreme fatigue, headaches, cramps, and tingling of the limbs.

The causes of dehydration are several. The most common is vomiting, diarrhea, malnutrition, or the simple failure to replenish the body with the liquids that are lost from sweating and urinating. Sadly, this is the most common cause of the dehydration in the nursing home.

Nursing homes have a legal duty to provide adequate hydration to their residents, and to provide the proper training to their employees to recognize the signs and symptoms of dehydration. The aging process itself will often cause a decrease in appetite, but this is never an excuse for dehydration in a patient (even though it's an excuse frequently used by nursing homes). For patients at risk, nursing homes are required to monitor the food intake and urine output of its residents, and keep the medical doctor informed of the resident's condition. The failure to do this may be a violation of the standard of care.

If you have any questions about dehydration in the nursing home or residential care setting, call Walton Barber LLP at (866) 607-1325.

Posted by Randall Walton | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Dehydration , Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect , Residential Care Facilities

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