Nursing home neglect is a general term that encompasses many different situations that commonly result in patient injury or even death.

The duration of the neglect can occur over any period of time– days, weeks, months — even years.  Many situations involving nursing home neglect are reflective of a systematic problem at the facility, where shift-after-shift of nursing home employees fails to provide necessary care to patients in need.

Medical complications such as malnutrition, dehydration, sepsis and bed sores are common consequences of nursing home neglect. In some situations, the aforementioned conditions of malnutrition and dehydration may contribute to the development of bed sores.

• Incontinence – Failure to keep patient clean, change soiled linens after an episode of incontinence, and re-position patients on a regular internals may contribute to the development of bed sores (similarly referred to as: pressure sores, pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers).

• Dehydration – An inability to perceive thirst or anxiety over going to the toilet are some of the common factors that contribute to dehydration of nursing home patients.  Staff must keep track of patients fluid intake and output.

• Malnutrition – We all know food is a basic requirement to keep our bodies functioning properly. Yet, when inappropriate foods (solid foods given to an  are given to patients who can not eat them) or no staff assistance is provided to patients who are unable to feed themselves serious health problems may develop.

Nursing Home Liability for Neglect of Patients

It is not necessary to distinguish the type of neglect nor establish actual intent on the part of the facility to pursue a cause of action premised on neglect.  Rather, if your loved one suffered a bed sore or other type of injury due to inaction on the part of a caretaker, you may be entitled to pursue a claim for the resulting damages.

Related:

• Lawsuit Claims That Nursing Home’s Negligence Resulted In Patient’s Decubitus Ulcers
• Lawsuit Alleges: One Week In The Nursing Home Results In Significant Deterioration Of Pressure Sores & Sepsis

As the largest organ of the body, the skin is one of the first places where the consequences of malnutrition may be visible in the form of a bed sores (similarly described as pressure sores, pressure ulcers, or decubitus ulcers).  There are various medical explanations why malnourished individuals are more susceptible to develop bed sores, but most experts uniformly agree that there are two primary reasons:

1) Malnourished people have less energy and consequently are unable to move on their own– resulting in a more time spent in one position.

2)  A long-term consequence of malnourishment is loss of fat, muscle and tissue– that provide necessary padding particularly in bed-bound patients, the less padding the more pressure that is put directly on the body– thereby resulting in increased rate of bed sores.

Another component of malnourishment and bed sores involves the essential nutrition for the healing process.  Patients with bed sores require an extraordinary amount of energy and nutrients, such as proteins and vitamins B and C, in order to heal advanced bed sores.  Without adequate nutrition, bed sores will not heal and frequently may worsen.

The following are common symptoms of malnutrition:

• Diarrhea
• Disorientation
• Goiter (enlarged thyroid gland)
• Loss of reflexes and lack of coordination
• Muscle twitches
• Scaling and cracking of the lips and mouth
• Drastic weight loss

Related:

Extra Calories Essential For Pressure Sore Patients To Heal Wounds

Grim Detail Emerge Regarding Malnutrition In Kentucky Nursing Home

Are individuals with poor nutrition susceptible to bed sores?