In addition to helping residents move around, get themselves dressed and washed, and generally manage everyday tasks, nursing homes are also expected to provide healthy and nutritious meals to everyone in their care. Unfortunately, not every nursing home meets this basic duty of care towards their residents, and sometimes this neglectful—if not outright abusive—treatment has life-threatening consequences.
Dehydration and malnutrition in Allentown nursing homes is a serious problem that may serve as grounds for you to file a civil suit on behalf of a family member impacted by nursing home neglect. If you’re worried that your loved one is being mistreated in this way, a skilled nursing home abuse attorney can help you understand what legal options you have and then make the most of those options in order to keep your family safe.
Common Symptoms of Dehydration and Malnutrition
Generally speaking, everyone should drink between 56 and 64 fluid ounces of water per day. While consuming a little bit less than this amount usually isn’t a major problem, going a long time without enough water can have serious health consequences. Dehydration can be characterized by symptoms like:
- Infrequent urination and dark-colored urine
- Sunken eyes
- Cracked and dry lips, tongue, and mouth
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Extreme fatigue
Malnutrition can be more complicated, since everyone’s caloric needs are different. Someone who’s eating a lot of food may still not be getting the nutrients they need from that food, or vice versa. Any of the following symptoms in nursing home residents may be cause for concern:
- Uncommon pale and dry skin
- Extreme loss of muscle tone and body fat
- Excessive fatigue
- Hair being brittle or falling out
- Getting sick or dealing with infections more frequently than normal
- Low body temperature, blood pressure, or heart rate
A skilled legal professional can offer further guidance about possible signs of dehydration or malnutrition in an Allentown nursing home during a private initial meeting.
Can You Sue Over a Lack of Food or Water in a Nursing Home?
Owners, managers, and staff members of nursing homes all have a legal duty to make sure their residents have all their basic needs met and a reasonable quality of life. Anyone employed by or in charge of a facility that allows a resident to go without proper food or water long enough that they suffer physical harm has breached their duty, which could make them legally liable for damages under the theory of negligence.
It doesn’t matter whether a nursing home intentionally denied a resident food or water or whether a resident was allowed to become dehydrated or malnourished by accident. Either type of misconduct could possibly give rise to civil litigation demanding compensation for all the losses suffered by the affected resident, including medical expenses, physical pain, emotional suffering, and more.
An Allentown Attorney Can Help Address Nursing Home Dehydration and Malnutrition
It’s especially important for people working in nursing homes to be qualified for and diligent about their jobs. If someone’s failure to act responsibly in this way led to your loved one being severely malnourished or dehydrated, you may have legal options that a winning lawyer can help you take advantage of.
Filing suit over dehydration and malnutrition in Allentown nursing homes is not something you want to try handling on your own. Call us today to learn how our legal team can assist with your unique claim.
