Dehydration and Neglect in Nursing Homes
December 19, 2013 |
Dehydration is a common sign of nursing home neglect. It should be obvious that elderly residents in long-term care facilities may need help ensuring that they are properly hydrated on a daily basis. Their own physical infirmities or cognitive challenges may make it difficult for them to ensure their own nutritional well-being.
Too often, seniors suffer serious injury or death due to complications from dehydration. When this happens, families file nursing home neglect lawsuits to hold facilities responsible and seek protection against elder abuse in nursing homes.
Call An Illinois Nursing Home Abuse & Personal Injury Lawyer Today
We have been advocating for the injured since 1984. Let us fight to hold wrongdoers accountable and recover the financial damages your family needs.
CALL US NOW Proving injury is central to these cases, as nursing homes often argue harm resulted from existing medical conditions rather than neglect. Because residents in long term care typically have health issues, clear medical documentation becomes essential. Accurate records help establish dehydration when claims move toward settlement or trial, which is why families often rely on legal representation for elder care issues.
So in the case of dehydration, how does one show that a resident actually was dehydrated while at the facility?
In most cases, dehydration will be documented by a doctor at a hospital after a senior is brought there from the nursing home following a serious medical problem. As discussed by professionals at the Mayo Clinic, there are three main ways to diagnose dehydration.
- Visual Diagnosis: Doctors are often well-versed in dehydration and can identify the problem immediately upon examining the patient and learning of their symptoms. The most common visual indicators of dehydration are a lack of urination, lack of skin elasticity, sunken eyes, increased heart rate, blood flow problems, and low blood pressure.
- Blood Test: A more formal diagnosis can be obtained via a blood test. Doctors can check electrolyte levels and kidney function via the blood to determine if hydration is lacking.
- Urinalysis: Similarly, examination of urine can show fluid levels in the body
Doctors making these determinations will also take an individual’s age into account. That is because it is well-documented that older adults are more susceptible to dehydration. The heightened risk is a product of the aging body’s waning ability to conserve water, weakened response to temperature changes, and less acute thirst sense.
Medical records always prove critical in nursing home neglect cases. That is certainly true in cases where dehydration is at issue. Reports of dehydration by medical professionals in the aftermath of hospitalization are frequently used in lawsuits proving neglect. Those reports can take the form of visual indicators listed by the doctor or formal test results.
Nursing Home Dehydration Lawsuits
Ensuring proper hydration and nutrition are foundational elements of adequate caregiving in nursing homes. If someone that you know was harmed by dehydration complications after a stay in a long-term care facility, then it is critical to demand accountability and redress. For help on these matters in Chicago and surrounding suburbs, please contact Robert Rooth today at (847) 869-9100.
CALL US NOW