Elderly Dehydration and Malnutrition in Nursing Homes
- Reviewed By
Anthony C. Lanzone, Founding Partner
- Lanzone Morgan, LLP, fights for victims of nursing home neglect in California, relentlessly advocating for elderly residents suffering from dehydration and malnutrition in nursing homes.
- The federal Nursing Home Reform Act and California laws protect residents from neglect. Our attorneys gather medical records, witness testimony, and expert opinions to prove negligence and demand justice.
- Victims and families may be entitled to compensation for economic, non-economic, and, in rare cases, punitive damages.
- The time for filing a claim is limited, so acting quickly is crucial to protecting your loved one’s rights.
When you entrust a nursing home to care for your loved one, you expect the facility to keep your loved one healthy and safe. Unfortunately, elderly dehydration and malnutrition in nursing homes is a silent epidemic, putting residents at severe risk.
Many families struggle with the heartbreaking realization that a nursing home has failed in its duty to provide adequate hydration and nutrition. You may feel angry, overwhelmed, and unsure about what to do next. But you don’t have to navigate this alone. At Lanzone Morgan, LLP, our elderly dehydration and malnutrition lawyers are dedicated to holding negligent nursing homes accountable for the harm they cause while fighting for the respect and care your loved one deserves.
Table of Contents:
- Warning Signs and Symptoms of Malnutrition or Dehydration
- Common Causes of Dehydration and Malnutrition in Nursing Homes
- Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Fight for Victims of Dehydration and Malnutrition
- Can Nursing Homes Be Held Accountable for Negligence?
- What Damages Can You Recover in a Nursing Home Neglect Case?
- Time Limit For Filing a Nursing Home Neglect Lawsuit in California
- Talk to Our Elder Abuse Attorneys About Dehydration and Malnutrition Today
Warning Signs and Symptoms of Malnutrition or Dehydration
When a nursing home fails to uphold certain standards of care, the effects can be life-threatening. Understanding the warning signs of dehydration and malnutrition is important for keeping your loved one safe and building a solid case. Below are some of the signs of dehydration and malnutrition:
Physical Symptoms
- Weight loss
- Dry skin or mouth
- Bedsores or slow-healing wounds
- Tremors or difficulty moving
- Vomiting, diarrhea, or poor digestion
- Mouth sores
- Pale, flushed, or jaundiced skin tone
Medical Complications
- Hypotension, or low blood sugar
- Urinary tract infections
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Renal failure
Cognitive and Behavioral Changes
- Confusion or disorientation
- Lethargy or unusual fatigue
- Increased irritability or depression
- Difficulty communicating
Nursing home staff have a legal and ethical responsibility to monitor residents for signs of dehydration and malnutrition by doing regular nutrition assessments, providing balanced meals, monitoring a resident’s physical and cognitive capabilities, and providing assistance with eating and drinking for those with mobility limitations.
When visiting your loved one, it is important to stay vigilant and monitor their behavior and physical appearance, looking for warning signs of neglect. Here are some things to pay attention to:
- Behavioral changes
- Signs of lethargy or confusion
- Cleanliness of the facility
- Quality of food provided
- Staff attentiveness
If you suspect neglect, document everything, take photos if possible, and report your concerns to facility management. Our team at Lanzone Morgan, LLP, will help investigate the nursing home, work with medical experts to prove neglect, and fight for the respect and care your loved one deserves.
Common Causes of Dehydration and Malnutrition in Nursing Homes
Dehydration and malnutrition in nursing homes do not happen by accident. There are several reasons your loved one may not have received the care they deserve, including the following:
- Understaffing
- Lack of proper training
- Staff inattentiveness
- Failure to address cognitive impairments
- Facilities cutting costs
- Medication side effects
- Failure to identify or address medical conditions
We know how devastating it is to see a loved one suffer due to nursing home neglect. You trusted this facility to care for a family member, and that trust was broken. We can help. We will investigate the facility, gather necessary evidence, and fight to hold the negligent parties accountable.
- Did you know?
Did you know that by the time elderly individuals feel thirsty, they may already be dehydrated? This underscores the importance of regular hydration checks in elder care.
Our Elderly Dehydration and Malnutrition Lawyers Are Ready to Fight For You
We understand the pain and frustration your family is feeling after discovering your loved one could be a victim of nursing home abuse, and when the facilities we’ve trusted fail to meet basic standards of care, they must be held accountable.
With over 75 years of combined experience, our team of attorneys, led by James M. Morgan and Anthony C. Lanzone, has successfully litigated nursing home abuse and neglect cases across California. We have secured over $200 million in compensation for our clients and will bring the same dedication to your pursuit of justice.
From the moment you contact us, we will listen, guide, and advocate for you with the same hands-on care we would offer our own family members.
Can Nursing Homes Be Held Accountable for Negligence?
Dehydration and malnutrition are not just results of unfortunate circumstances. They are often preventable and result from inadequate care or neglect.
The Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 and its related regulations protect a resident’s right to quality care. Under 42 CFR §483.12, residents have the right to protection against neglect and abuse. These federal standards require nursing homes to provide adequate dietary and pharmaceutical services.
To hold a nursing home accountable, you must prove negligence by the facility or its staff led to malnutrition and dehydration. Such evidence may include the following:
- Medical records documenting weight loss, dehydration, or worsening health conditions
- Witness testimony from staff, residents, or family members
- Expert opinions from medical professionals who can confirm the facility’s negligent behavior
- Facility records that reveal understaffing, inadequate food and water provisions, or violations of care regulations.
Unfortunately, many nursing homes cut corners, understaff their facilities, or fail to implement proper nutrition and hydration protocols. All too often, nursing home residents suffer from dangerous dehydration and malnutrition. We will fight to make it right. At Lanzone Morgan, LLP, our California nursing home abuse lawyers have the experience, resources, and determination to build a strong case for your family and fight against the injustice you have suffered.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Nursing Home Neglect Case?
California law allows victims of nursing home neglect and their families to recover compensation, helping ease the burden caused by those you were supposed to be able to trust.
Economic damages cover financial losses directly related to your loved one’s suffering and include the following:
- Medical bills
- Prescription medications
- Lost wages
Non-economic damages compensate for the physical and emotional toll neglect has had on you and your loved one, including the following:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional and mental distress
- Decreased quality of life
- Fear, embarrassment, and humiliation
Punitive damages are granted in cases of extreme neglect or intentional harm to punish the nursing home and prevent future neglect.
With a lawsuit, you can hold negligent nursing homes accountable and secure the compensation necessary to support your loved one’s healing and well-being.
Time Limit For Filing a Nursing Home Neglect Lawsuit in California
Many factors go into determining the correct statute of limitations to filing a lawsuit. Some of those factors are the time limit to file a nursing home neglect lawsuit in California depends on who is being sued. Claims against licensed healthcare providers, such as nursing homes, hospitals, doctors, or nurses, must generally be filed within one year from the date the harm was discovered, and no later than three years from when it occurred. For other parties, like assisted living facilities or individual caregivers, the deadline is typically two years from the date of the incident. Other exceptions include, but are not limited to:
- Discovery Rule: If signs of neglect were not immediately apparent, the two-year limit begins when the injury is discovered.
- Incapacitated Victims: If the victim is legally incapacitated, the deadline may be extended.
- Government-Run Nursing Homes: If the facility is state-run, clients may have as little as six months to file a claim.
If the deadline is missed, the court will likely dismiss the case. Therefore, victims and their families may lose the opportunity to hold the nursing home accountable and claim compensation. Gathering the necessary materials to create a solid case takes time, so do not wait until it is too late to reach out.
Because of the legal complexities involved in determining which statute of limitations applies in your case, contact an attorney as soon as possible so you do not miss the applicable deadline to file your nursing home lawsuit.
Talk to Our Elder Abuse Attorneys About Dehydration and Malnutrition Today
If your loved one is suffering from dehydration and malnutrition in nursing homes, you do not have to face this alone. The team at Lanzone Morgan, LLP, is here to help you hold negligent facilities accountable, secure the compensation your family deserves, and take the first step toward justice.
Call 888-887-9777 or contact us online for a free consultation.
- Fact-Checked
This content has been legally reviewed and approved by nursing home abuse attorney, Anthony Lanzone. Anthony holds notable memberships with professional organizations including the American Association for Justice and Consumer Attorneys of California.
VIEW SOURCES
- Fact-Checked
This content has been legally reviewed and approved by nursing home abuse attorney, Anthony Lanzone. Anthony holds notable memberships with professional organizations including the American Association for Justice and Consumer Attorneys of California.