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Malnutrition in Nursing Home

Experienced Attorney When it comes to the elderly residents in a nursing home, nutritional well-being is an essential component of any treatment plan. Dehydration and malnutrition can happen easily amongst the elderly as well as lead to more severe health problems. Not only can these conditions lead to weight loss, confusion, or infection, but severe cases can also become fatal. Proper nutrition and hydration is a basic right that every resident is entitled to, whether they are incapacitated or not. Common Causes of Malnutrition or Dehydration Adequate nutrition includes receiving enough minerals, proteins, calories, vitamins, and liquids to remain strong and healthy. Many different factors can contribute to nursing home residents not receiving adequate hydration or nutrition. In cases where the resident is unable to ingest or maintain adequate levels of these things, the nursing home staff is required to make adjustments to accommodate them. For example, if a resident cannot feed themselves, the staff is required to feed them so they can maintain their health. Aside from the resident’s own physical or psychological limitations, other outside factors may include the staff acting in a way that is abusive or neglectful. Here are some ways that nursing homes contribute to malnutrition and dehydration themselves. Inadequate supervision by staff to assist with feeding when necessary Lack of exercise or individualized care plans Ill-informed staff members who are not familiar with the proper ways to assist residents who need help Food that is improperly served or unappetizing A disorganized or chaotic dining room  Leaving fluids in places that are not easily accessible to the patient  Failing to administer tube feedings when necessary Recognizing Signs of Malnutrition and Dehydration If you think that your loved one may be suffering from a lack of food or water, keep an eye out for these potential indicators: Recent, significant weight loss Clothing that seems to fit more loosely  Dry mouth that makes it difficult to speak Cracked, pale, or bleeding lips or gums Infrequent, dark urination A tongue that is bright red, dry, and furrowed Frequent complaints of thirst Unexplained disorientation or weakness Skin that feels warm and dry Sudden and unexplained hair loss or thinning Gums that have shrunk, causing dentures to no longer fit properly Tooth loss or a tender mouth Wounds that appear to take a long time to heal Skin that appears “loose,” dry, or to be deteriorating Residents at a...
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How Long Does It Take To Settle a Nursing Home Injury Claim?

Experienced Attorney If you or someone you love was involved in a nursing home injury, you probably are looking into getting compensation for the injury. If you are like most people, you probably have a lot of questions about the process you are about to begin. Remember, you should hire an attorney immediately to get answers to these questions and to begin the process right. A big question many people have is how long they should expect the lawsuit to take. This guide is all about this question. Length of the Lawsuit Personal injury lawsuits involving a nursing home are usually not any longer or shorter than other personal injury suits. However, you should know that all types of lawsuits usually take a very long time to resolve. Television and movies portray court cases as being quick things that only take a few weeks, but this is completely fictitious. In reality, the average length of a lawsuit is about 18 to 24 months. Sometimes they can resolve faster, especially if the other side decides to settle quickly, but you should not file a lawsuit expecting it to last any less than two years. Your attorney can give you an estimate for your case, given its unique details. Process of the Lawsuit Why does a nursing home injury case have to take so long? There are many lengthy processes that need to happen. The lawsuit process will look like this: First the attorney must investigate the case and gather as much information as possible to determine how strong the case is. This can take weeks or months.If things look good, the attorney will send out a Notice of Claim, which informs the defendants of the lawsuit. The defendant usually has 60 days to compensate the victim.If the defendant chooses not to provide compensation, the attorney will file the lawsuit. This only takes a few days.A lengthy period of discovery takes place. Both sides can prepare their cases in preparation for the trial. Discovery can take months or even more than a full year.Finally the trial begins. Both sides present their cases before a judge. The trial can also take several months to conclude. Keep in mind that it is possible for the defendant to settle at any point during this process, but you cannot count on it to happen. Settlements are most commonly reached at some point during the trial,...
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