Nursing Home Lawyer PA

Malnutrition

Rapid and Unexpected Weight Loss Could Case Injury or Harm

Approximately 20% of nursing home residents demonstrate symptoms of malnutrition.

Malnutrition occurs when a nursing home resident does not receive adequate intake of food and nutrients. Rapid and unexpected weight loss by a resident in a nursing home may cause family members to wonder if the resident is suffering from neglect.
Malnutrition in nursing home resident is fairly commonplace. A study in Current Opinion and Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care documented that approximately 20% of nursing home residents demonstrate symptoms of malnutrition.

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Risk Factors For Malnutrition

Illness Related

Inability To Self-Feed

Medication Side Effect

Multiple factors can contribute to malnutrition in elderly nursing home residents receiving an adequate amount of protein, calories, vitamins, and liquids needed to maintain health. Physical causes of malnutrition may be due to illness related to the resident’s diagnoses, including kidney diseases, cardiac failure, and chronic lung disease. ​

Residents with diagnoses of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease may have a reduced ability to recognize their nutritional needs and feed themselves.

Medications commonly prescribed to seniors can also cause stomach upset (nausea, diarrhea, vomiting) that lead to malnutrition. Some medications can also increase drowsiness and cause cognitive changes that impact the resident’s intake.

Nursing Home Problems Leading To Malnutrition

Has your Loved One been a victim of Malnutrition? There is no wait to speak to our expert attorneys.

Consequences Of Malnutrition

Malnutrition can cause harmful health consequences in the infirm nursing home residents. These health effects include slower wound healing, frequent infections, muscle weakness, and a weakened immune system. Malnutrition increases a resident’s risk for both morbidity and mortality. If you notice that your loved one has had recent unexpected weight loss, notify their physician as soon as possible and request and evaluation. You may also want to confer with a nursing home abuse and neglect attorney to help identify if your loved one’s malnutrition is due to failures of the nursing home.

Contact An Attorney Today

A nursing home abuse attorney can help identify if malnutrition is due to issues such as: