THE LAW OFFICES OF
BARRY G. DOYLE, P.C.
100 W MONROE ST.,
STE 2100
CHICAGO, IL 60603
PHONE: 312.263.1080
FAX: 312.263.0153
Chicago Nursing Home Neglect Attorney
Serving Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, and Surrounding Areas
No nursing home resident should be denied basic sustenance. Malnutrition and dehydration are frequent but hidden causes of death and injury to nursing home residents.
Federal regulations
Nursing homes are required by federal regulations to ensure:
- That residents receive a diet adequate to meet their nutritional needs
- That residents receive sufficient fluid intake to maintain proper health and hydration
The nursing home staff is required to monitor the resident's nutrition and hydration and to develop proper care plans when there are deficiencies.
It is often difficult for family members to assess whether the resident is receiving proper food and fluids. Consequently they must rely on the nursing home staff to properly monitor their loved one's condition.
Effects of malnutrition and dehydration
- They render the resident more susceptible to injury and illness, especially pressure ulcers (bedsores), because lack of water and nutrients compromise the health of the skin
- They increase the likelihood of falls due to muscle wasting
- They suppress the resident's immune system, resulting in an increased susceptibility to infection and disease
- They are significant barriers to recovery, once the resident does in fact suffer injury or become ill
Careful review of the resident's chart will often show that a significant event such as a fall or a bedsore are in fact the culmination of long-term malnutrition and/or dehydration. And these in turn are caused by the failure of the nursing home staff to assess and monitor the resident's nutrition and hydration.
If you suspect your loved one may be malnourished or dehydrated as a result of neglect, contact Chicago nursing home neglect attorney Barry Doyle for your free legal consultation.
