Articles Tagged with malnutrition

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

Is malnutrition in an Orange County nursing home or assisted-living facility a result of nursing home neglect? The answer to this question is not always straightforward. Malnutrition can be difficult to identify, and in some cases, it can result from health issues that affect the resident. At the same time, malnutrition can be the result of elder abuse or neglect. Accordingly, it is important for anyone with a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility in California to understand the causes of malnutrition and common signs of malnutrition linked to elder abuse and neglect. An experienced Orange County nursing home neglect lawyer can provide you with more information, and we can speak with you today about taking action if an elderly loved one has experienced harmful malnutrition in a Southern California facility.

Learning More About Malnutrition

What is malnutrition? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition is a term that “refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy or nutrients.” It can take different forms, including the form known as “undernutrition,” which tends to result in the most harm for elderly Americans. Undernutrition can involve wasting, being underweight, and having important micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies. While malnutrition can affect people worldwide of any age, it tends to have the most significant impact among older adults in the US. 

zdunbsai3p0-geo-darwin-300x225When many of us think about nursing home abuse or neglect in Carlsbad, California, we imagine scenarios in which patients have clearly been subjected to inadequate care. Yet nursing home neglect can be much more insidious, particularly when it involves malnutrition. What is malnutrition, exactly? An article in the Huffington Post clarifies that malnutrition simply refers to “insufficient food intake compared with nutrition requirements.”

As a recent peer-reviewed article in Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care explains, “malnutrition in the nursing home is increasingly recognized as a major international research priority, given the expanding geriatric populations, serious consequences, and challenges conducting research in nursing homes.” What do you need to know about the connections between nursing home neglect and malnutrition in Southern California?

Learning More About Malnutrition Among Elderly California Residents

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