Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer
A nursing home should be a safe and comfortable place for your loved one. While most nursing homes are run by professional and attentive staff, you should always be one the lookout for signs of neglect and abuse. Here’s what you should know about nursing home malnutrition.
- Sometimes It’s Normal To Lose Your Appetite
For most of us, our tastes change as we get older. We may have less of an appetite for our favorite foods, or we may have less of an appetite, period. While it’s important to be on the lookout for malnutrition when you visit your loved one, don’t completely discount the fact that he or she may be experiencing a natural change of appetite.
Keep in mind, certain medications may affect how much food your loved one eats – and even how certain foods taste. If you’re trying to rule out natural or medically-induced appetite loss, keep an eye out for some telltale signs that malnutrition and neglect is happening behind closed doors.
- It’s Important To Know The Signs
There are many signs of nursing home neglect, especially malnutrition. Keep an eye out for any sudden changes of mood between your visits, as they may be a sign that something’s not right at the nursing home. Also, look out for ill-fitting clothes, and injuries that are taking a long time to heal.
If your loved one has access to a fridge, check on it. Make sure there’s no rotten food, and make sure there’s food in there in the first place. If your loved one has suddenly lost a lot of weight, is suddenly low-energy or depressed, and has some old or expired food in the fridge, it may be a sign that he or she isn’t eating enough.
- Malnutrition And Neglect Can Happen Behind Closed Doors
As a nursing home neglect lawyer like our friends at Davis & Brusca, LLC can explain, malnutrition isn’t always easy to talk about. When you visit your family member, he or she may feel too intimidated to mention any kind of mistreatment experienced at the nursing facility. After all, you’re only there for an hour or two, but your loved one has to live there.
Even if a nursing home seems completely safe, clean, and competent, there’s no guarantee that all is well behind closed doors. Don’t lull yourself into a false sense of security when it comes to dealing with your family members.
- You May Need To Do Some Detective Work
If your loved one isn’t doing much talking, but you know something isn’t totally right, you may have to do some detective work to uncover what’s happening at the nursing home. Do some research and see if the nursing home has made any headlines for mistreatment, and be on the lookout for the signs of malnutrition and neglect.
When you visit your loved one, try to get some one-on-one time, without any staff present. Your family member may not want to tell you the truth about their situation unless you’re having a private conversation.
- The Right Lawyer Can Help
Your loved one shouldn’t have to suffer mistreatment, malnutrition, and neglect. Fortunately, the right lawyer can help. Get in touch with a nursing home lawyer in your area for a free consultation, and see what they can do for you and your loved one if you suspect that your loved one is experiencing mistreatment at a nursing facility.