Southern California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog
Nursing home residents should all be receiving a quality of care that prevents malnutrition, the development of bed sores and other infections, and other avoidable consequences of neglect. When a nursing home or assisted-living facility fails to provide such a level of care — often due to understaffing — the facility can be held accountable through a nursing home neglect lawsuit. A recent case in a Southern California residential care facility highlights how these injuries can arise and underscores that facilities are responsible when this type of harm occurs. According to a recent report from NBC San Diego, the California Attorney General’s Office has taken action against a residential care facility for the elderly (RCFE) that was “severely understaffed” and where multiple residents were diagnosed with malnutrition and bed sores.
Often, family members of the elderly are in the best position to be able to quickly recognize and remedy common signs of neglect, and to take swift action against the facility to prevent harm in the future. What should you know about malnutrition and bed sores in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities due to understaffing? Our Orange County nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers can tell you more.
Bed Sores Among Older Adult Residents in Nursing Homes and Assisted-Living Facilities
Bed sores can develop quite fast, and as long as they are identified and treated quickly, they tend to heal relatively quickly. Yet even mild bed sores develop as a result of inattention — these are “injuries to the skin and the tissue below the skin that are due to pressure on the skin for a long time,” as the Mayo Clinic explains.
The Mayo Clinic clarifies that some bed sores can develop within hours, although these injuries more commonly develop over a course of one or more days if a nursing home resident receives proper attention, especially when the resident has mobility issues that require frequent assistance with movement to prevent bed sores.
Malnutrition and Nursing Home Neglect
While some bed sores may develop very quickly — even when a resident is receiving a high level of care — malnutrition should never occur in a nursing home setting.
According to research published recently in the journal Nutrients, malnutrition among older adults in nursing homes is “associated with increased morbidity and mortality.” When an elderly nursing home resident is malnourished, they are less likely to recover from diseases and from surgery, and more likely to contract infections and to have to contend with chronic disease. Wound healing becomes a serious problem among older adults with malnutrition, along with an increased risk of falls, bone fractures, and permanent disability. Malnutrition occurs when a resident does not receive the nutrition they need, and it is linked closely to neglect.
Contact Our Orange County Nursing Home Neglect Attorneys Today for Assistance
Your elderly loved ones should never experience malnutrition, bed sores, or other preventable harms while living in a nursing home or assisted-living facility in Southern California. If you have any reason to suspect nursing home neglect, it is important to seek advice from an Orange County nursing home neglect lawyer as soon as you can. At the Walton Law Firm, we are committed to helping older adults and their families hold facilities accountable for nursing home abuse and neglect. Contact the Walton Law Firm today to learn more about the services we provide and to begin working on a nursing home neglect claim.
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