Failure To Provide Adequate Nutrition/Hydration

Malnutrition and dehydration are complicated issues in nursing homes. On the one hand, you cannot force someone to eat; on the other, you must provide residents with the vitamins, nutrients and water they need in order to survive. Failing to keep residents fed and hydrated may be deemed negligence; withholding food and/or water is abuse.

Crandall & Pera Law has handled complex claims of malnutrition and dehydration for nursing home residents throughout Ohio and Kentucky. Our team of attorneys and registered nurses is aware of the signs of malnutrition and dehydration, and we can help.

Warning Signs Of Malnutrition

Nursing homes must provide food that is nutritious and healthy to their residents. When faced with a resident who will not eat or cannot eat, it is their responsibility to supply vitamins and water through other means, such as an IV drip, or through a liquid form. Failure to do so will ultimately result in the slow starving of a resident’s body. The signs of malnutrition and dehydration may be apparent in:

• The skin. Malnutrition can make a person’s skin appear yellow or dull, and dehydration will dry out the skin. The skin may also lose some of its elasticity. Because the blood vessels in the dermis layer of skin become more fragile as we age, elderly people are at greater risk of bruising; elderly residents suffering with dehydration or malnutrition can lose what little protection their skin offers them and suffer with increased damage to that skin.
• The eyes. Dehydration can lead to “sunken eyes,” and a decreased ability to produce tears. People suffering with malnutrition may have red or swollen corneas.
• The mouth. Without water to keep their mouths dry, nursing home residents may experience severe chapped lips and dry mucous membranes. Residents with malnutrition may develop canker sores or thrush on the cheeks. Even small cuts can increase the chance of a resident developing an infection.
• The muscles. Residents who are dehydrated or malnourished will have difficultly even doing everyday tasks, as their muscles may begin to lose volume due to atrophy.
• The brain. Lack of nutrients can cause cognitive impairment. In extreme cases of dehydration and malnutrition, a person may become delirious or behave in ways that indicate disorientation.

Without the right nutrients, a person’s body will become incapable of fighting off infections or recovering from illnesses. This can make even the common cold a potentially life-threatening illness.

At Crandall & Pera Law, we understand how frightening this can be for both our clients and their families. Our team represents clients in Ohio and Kentucky involving nursing home abuse and neglect cases. We have the resources and experience to handle cases involving the withholding of food as well as cases where a nursing home is providing food of little nutritional value. We offer compassionate yet practical guidance.

Contact Us If You Believe Your Family Member Is Malnourished Or Dehydrated

Poor nutrition puts people’s lives in danger in many ways. Crandall & Pera Law helps families when a loved one has suffered abuse or neglect in a nursing home. If you live in Ohio or Kentucky, please call 855-444-6651 or fill out this convenient online contact form to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our attorneys.