After your loved one moves into a nursing home, you may notice some changes in his or her physical appearance. Some of these may be natural and related to a change in daily schedule from when he or she was living at home. Your loved one may be eating better at the nursing home than at home, for example.
Other times, though, these changes could be signs of some sort of neglect or abuse on the part of the staff at the nursing home. The staff has an obligation to attend to the emotional, medical, and hygienic needs of the resident at all times.
If you suspect that some sort of abuse is occurring that involves your loved one at their nursing home, you need to take action to protect his or her health and rights. With a Cicero rapid weight loss or hair loss lawyer on your side, you can ensure the nursing home is paying attention to your concerns about potential neglect. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm as soon as possible for a free consultation.
Understanding Weight Loss in the Elderly
Unintentional weight loss in senior citizens and in nursing home residents could occur for a variety of reasons. Regardless of why the weight loss is occurring, it requires close consideration on the part of family members and medical personnel.
Cancer
Weight loss is a common early sign in an elderly person who has a cancerous tumor growing inside his or her body. The staff at the nursing home should pick up on this sign and ensure a doctor runs tests on the person who is losing weight.
Dementia
A nursing home resident who is beginning to suffer from dementia may have a change in the way he or she tastes and smells. This can lead to a loss of appetite and weight loss. Again, nursing home staff should see this sign and have medical personnel check for other signs of the onset of dementia.
Depression
Weight loss can be a sign of depression in the elderly. Staff at the nursing home may also notice other signs of depression, such as alcohol or substance abuse, personality changes, and heightened anxiety.
Side Effects of Medication
Some medications an elderly person may start taking could lead to a loss of appetite. If the side effect of a medication creates diarrhea or vomiting, the elderly person could begin losing weight suddenly too. Staff should understand the side effects of medications, keeping an eye out for weight loss problems.
Outright Abuse
It is possible your loved one is losing weight in the nursing home because of abuse or neglect on the part of the staff. Situations that could show abuse include:
- Poor quality of food.
- Improper preparation of food to meet the needs of someone with dysphagia.
- Withholding of water as punishment.
- Refusing to serve food to a resident as punishment.
- Serving only food the resident knowingly dislikes.
Reporting Suspected Abuse
To prevent unintentional weight loss in nursing home residents, nursing home staff should provide feeding assistance or ensure a higher quality of food. Failure to do this may fit under the definition of negligence.
If you believe the nursing home administration is not listening to your concerns about your loved one’s care, you may want to hire a Cicero rapid weight loss or hair loss lawyer.
The team of lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm is ready to protect your loved one, helping them receive the financial award they deserve. Call us today, and we can begin working on your case.
Understanding Hair Loss in the Elderly
As with weight loss, hair loss in an elderly person can be a sign of many different health conditions, but it also could be a sign that abuse is occurring in the nursing home.
Illnesses
When an elderly person has a condition like anemia or hyperthyroidism, he or she may lose large chunks of hair from the scalp. Many times, staff can treat these types of illnesses using prescription drugs, which can put an end to the hair loss. Nursing home staff should report any hair loss to the resident’s doctor.
Malnutrition
For a nursing home resident who is not eating properly or who is not eating a well-balanced diet, hair loss is common. A lack of proper nutrition may also show up as problems with fingernails and skin.
Side Effects of Medications
Should the nursing home resident be taking certain medications, it is possible that a side effect could be hair loss. Certain drugs related to heart conditions, high blood pressure, cancer, or arthritis all may cause hair loss.
For a free legal consultation with a Rapid Weight Loss or Hair Loss Lawyer serving Cicero, call (800) 794-0444
We Work on a Contingency Fee Basis
When you hire a Cicero rapid weight loss or hair loss lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm in a case like this, we will work on a contingency fee basis. You will not pay anything up front while we handle your case. Our fee comes from any settlement you receive from the nursing home.
As compassionate lawyers, we stand up for the rights of victims of abuse in a nursing home setting. We will study police reports, medical records, staff training manuals, video surveillance, and other facts related to your case to determine who exactly should be held liable for any abuse.
Call today so our team can begin working on your behalf as quickly as possible to help with your case.
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