In a well-run nursing home, nutrition is a vital component of care. Staff doctors, dieticians and aides should work together to make sure that residents are getting proper nutrients and fluids.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. At some facilities, no one is keeping track or providing assistance to residents. Lack of proper nutrition and hydration can lead to falls, illness, organ failure or even death, especially in residents who are already weak from disease, injury or surgery.
Do you suspect your loved one’s deteriorated health or unexpected death stemmed from malnutrition or dehydration? Ginsberg & O’Connor, P.C., has successfully sued elder care facilities in Burlington County and surrounding New Jersey for nursing home neglect. Call us for a free attorney consultation.
Malnourishment May Be A Sign Of Substandard Care
Nursing home residents cannot be expected to manage their own nutrition. That is the staff’s responsibility. Our investigation sometimes reveals that health decline is linked to negligence, neglect or abuse such as:
- Failure to assist frail residents with eating and drinking
- Failure to chart food and fluid intake
- Failure to assess or accommodate special dietary needs
- Failure to initiate IVs or feeding tubes
- Failure to conduct a medical exam on a patient who has stopped eating
- Shaming residents for spilling or asking to be fed
We Will Take Action
Your loved one deserves dignity as well as the level of health care mandated under New Jersey law. Malnutrition or dehydration can rapidly lead to grave illness, injury or death. We can act quickly to intervene and hold nursing homes accountable, including reimbursement for hospitalization, compensation for pain and suffering, as well as lasting disability.
Call our Mount Laurel personal injury lawyers toll-free at 856-727-1991, or contact us online today to schedule a free initial consultation.