Dehydration is a serious issue facing nursing home residents, and it is entirely preventable. Dehydration is inadequate fluid intake for the body’s needs. Dehydration occurs in elderly residents who mainly have swallowing disorders or forget to drink water.
When dehydration in nursing homes isn’t addressed, it can quickly lead to various medical issues such as confusion, dizziness, low blood pressure, and decreased alertness that may put nursing facility patients at risk for falls or other accidents.
The nursing home abuse lawyers at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC are committed to protecting the legal rights of Illinois nursing home patients with injuries related to elderly dehydration or malnutrition. Each nursing home dehydration lawyer is committed to obtaining justice for your loved one.
Contact a lawyer (888) 424-5757 for a confidential free consultation on a Chicago nursing home dehydration lawsuit on behalf of your loved one.
The Importance of Proper Nutrition and Hydration for Nursing Home Residents
Food and water are essential for the body’s systems to operate effectively. Every nursing home resident must maintain proper nutrition and proper hydration for the functioning of body organs.
Yet, many nursing homes do not have adequate professional supervision of elderly patients and often violate federal law (Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987) requiring nursing homes to meet residents’ nutrition needs.
Dehydration in Nursing Homes Studies and Statistics
Dehydration occurs when nursing home staff do not ensure the adequate fluid intake of their residents. Out of forty nursing home residents surveyed by the American Geriatric Society, statistics reveal that only one resident likely had sufficient fluid intake.
A study done by Commonwealth Fund found as many as 85% of the elderly population living in some of the nation’s more than 17,000 nursing homes are malnourished and in some nursing homes, from 30 to 50% are underweight.
Reuters Health reported that nursing facility patients are more likely to be dehydrated than those in the broader community. Statistics revealed that over 10,000 nursing home, residents died between 2018 and 2021 due to malnutrition and dehydration in nursing homes.
Dehydration Health Complications
Serious health complications that could be caused by dehydration include the following:
- High body temperature [1]
- Decreased urine output
- Increased risk of coma
- Muscle twitching
- Seizures
- Muscle weakness
- Life-threatening conditions and even death with severe dehydration
Many long-term care facilities have inadequate staffing levels, contributing to high rates of neglect of nursing home residents.
Nursing Facility Malnutrition and Dehydration Injury FAQs
Our attorneys understand that nursing home dehydration victims have unanswered questions, and an attorney from our law firm has answered some questions below.
For further information, contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC at (888) 424-5757 or use the contact form.
Is Your Loved One Suffering from Nursing Home Dehydration or Malnutrition?
Is your loved one suffering from an injury, or have they died from nursing home dehydration or malnutrition caused by the lack of adequate staff or negligence?
If so, the nursing home abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC are available with a free consultation to discuss the merits of your compensation case.
Contact us today at 888-424-5757 (toll-free phone call) or use the contact form on our website to learn about your loved ones’ legal options.
Contingency Fee Agreement
Our nursing home dehydration attorneys accept all serious personal injury claims and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee agreement. This arrangement immediately ensures our clients have legal representation without paying any upfront out-of-pocket expenses.
All discussions with our nursing home neglect lawyers remain confidential through an attorney-client relationship.