Sunday, March 3, 2013

Malnutrition in Nursing Homes


Nursing homes are responsible for the well being of their residents since they assist their elderly patients with all aspects of their lives. As such, nursing homes are responsible for ensuring that their patients receive proper nourishment.

When these establishments try to cut back on costs, they may buy inferior food products or significantly lower portions. Unfortunately, this may come at the expense of your loved one's health. When assisted living facilities buy poor qualities of food or underfeed their patients, your loved one may suffer malnourishment, which can lead to significant problems.

You may be able to tell if your loved one has suffered from malnutrition. In general, he or she may appear weaker or frailer than usual, and he or she may not have the same amount of energy as before. Many elderly individuals will also suffer significant weight loss without any discernable reason.

When an individual is underfed or eats foods that are low in nutrients for long periods of time, he or she may eventually pass away from malnutrition. In the meantime, though, an individual may suffer any number of medical problems.

Individuals who suffer harm in nursing homes from malnutrition or other forms of physical abuse may be entitled to financial compensation for their unnecessary suffering. These individuals will likely need to file personal injury lawsuits to pursue this compensation.

Before filing a lawsuit, individuals are advised to first seek out an experienced personal injury lawyer to help them build and fight their cases. Though hiring a lawyer does not guarantee victory, many individuals may increase their chances of winning their lawsuits when they employ the help of experienced lawyers.

If your loved one suffered malnutrition while living in an assisted living facility, discuss your legal rights and options with the New Jersey nursing home abuse attorneys of Levinson Axelrod, P.A., today.

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