When families are forced to place a relative in the care of a nursing home, they trust the facility to ensure any special needs are met. Unfortunately, nursing home staff often fail to address a resident’s most basic needs such as adequate nutrition. For example, at least one-third of all nursing home residents suffer from malnutrition. According to some studies, the figure may be as high as 85% of all nursing home residents.

While proper nutrition is important for any person, it is essential to an elderly person who’s overall health is more fragile and susceptible to illness. Thus, nursing homes have a duty to meet high nutritional standards for all of their residents. Symptoms of malnutrition include weight loss, swollen gums, fragile bones, lethargy, confusion, swollen or bloated abdomen, decreased organ function, and even death.

Illness resulting from malnutrition are avoidable if the nursing home staff takes proper care and caution. In many cases, this is as simple as monitoring what residents eat and ensuring that they obtain the proper nutrients. Proper preparation of entrees is also an essential element to avoiding malnutrition even if the resident requires a special diet. These measures should be routine, but they are often ignored.

If your loved one has suffered illness in a nursing home as a result of malnutrition, we encourage you to contact our Midwest nursing home abuse law firm. The nursing home has failed in its most basic duty, and your family deserves the right to recover the damages caused.

Nursing home abuse and negligence claims involve many complex legal and medical issues. Having the right attorney is essential to recovering what you deserve. Our law firm will do everything possible to assist you in obtaining the maximum compensation possible. More importantly, our firm will serve as an ally that will give you and your family the respect and compassion it needs. Contact us to protect your family today.

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