If your loved one lives in a nursing home and is experiencing rapid weight loss or hair loss, these could be signs of nursing home abuse or neglect due to malnutrition. The outcome of malnutrition in an already vulnerable nursing home resident can be extremely severe and sometimes even fatal.
If your loved one has suffered malnutrition and injuries in a nursing home that was supposed to care for them, you or your loved one might have a claim for compensation against the negligent nursing homes.
If you are interested in taking legal action, consult with a Louisiana rapid weight loss or hair loss lawyer so that you can preserve your right to pursue compensation for losses due to abuse or neglect by nursing homes.
Finding out that the nursing home you trusted to care for your loved one can be shocking and overwhelming. Your first concern, and rightfully so, is likely getting your loved one the medical care they need and moving them to a place where they will be safe.
If nursing home negligence caused your loved one to suffer injuries, you might be able to receive financial recovery for your expenses and other losses from the parties responsible. Call (800) 842-6336 to learn more about how Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you.
Malnutrition in Nursing Home Residents
As the American population continues to rapidly age, the nursing home population has exploded due in large part to people living longer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 1.3 million nursing home residents in 2015. Unfortunately, along with these increases in the number of nursing home residents are increases in the incidence of nursing home abuse and neglect. While most people think of physical abuse as violent actions toward a person, physical abuse in the context of a nursing home also can relate to a lack of proper nutrition and hydration.
Although the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 requires all nursing homes to assess the nutritional needs of nursing home residents upon admission into a facility, and every three months while they remain residents, many residents still suffer from malnutrition.
Malnutrition can have devastating effects, especially for older adults who already may be frail or have underlying health conditions. In this situation, a Louisiana rapid weight loss or hair loss lawyer might be able to help.
Causes of Malnutrition in Nursing Homes Residents
Various situations can lead to nursing home residents suffering from malnutrition, many of which nursing homes could prevent. When nursing home staff negligently allow nursing home residents to become malnourished or dehydrated, they could be held liable or financially responsible for the residents’ resulting injuries.
One common cause of malnutrition in nursing homes is chronic understaffing. Kaiser Health News researchers, who analyzed data that Medicare recently started collecting, found that most nursing homes had fewer nurses and caregiving staff members than they reported to the federal government.
Even in facilities that typically had better staffing levels, there were many days when drastically insufficient staff were working. When a single caregiver is responsible for the feeding of multiple adults, ensuring that they all get enough nutrition can be difficult, if not impossible.
Other factors also can lead to malnutrition, such as chronic diseases or medications that cause vomiting, diarrhea, or appetite loss. Residents may also need help with feeding for various reasons, such as those who have tremors or agitation.
They also could have undiagnosed or untreated mouth pain, which makes it hard for them to eat. Without caregivers providing consistent supervision and attention, residents can quickly become malnourished and experience severe health effects as a result.
If you are ready to pursue legal action against a nursing home where a loved one is experiencing rapid weight loss or hair loss, we want to hear from you. Give Pintas & Mullins Law Firm a call today so that we can learn the details of your loved one’s situation.
For a free legal consultation with a Rapid Weight Loss or Hair Loss Lawyer serving Louisiana, call (800) 842-6336
Deadlines for Filing Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuits
Louisiana Revised Statutes (RS) §9:5628 provides the statute of limitations in nursing home abuse cases, or the time frame that injury victims have to file their lawsuits against those who abused them.
Under this code section, injured nursing home residents and their family members generally have only one year from the date of the abuse, or one year from the date that the family members discovered the abuse, to sue for compensation.
Despite this “discovery rule,” however, this code section of Louisiana law also contains what is known as a statute of repose. Families have a total of three years from the date the abuse occurred to their loved one in a nursing home in which to file their claims.
Under this section, families can still pursue legal action if they do not discover their loved one has suffered abuse in a nursing home until two years after the abuse has occurred. Nonetheless, if family members do not discover the abuse until three or more years have passed since the date of abuse, the statute of repose bars their claims.
As a result of these restrictions on pursuing nursing home abuse cases, families of loved ones in nursing homes should keep a careful watch over these uniquely vulnerable adults. Quickly recognizing the signs of abuse, such as rapid weight and hair loss, can preserve your legal rights to compensation against the nursing home where the abuse occurred.
Otherwise, you risk losing out on your chance to hold the nursing home accountable for the abuse your loved one suffered and prevent similar abuse to others in the future.
Louisiana Rapid Weight Loss or Hair Loss Lawyer Near Me (800) 842-6336
We Will Work for You and Your Loved One
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can act as an advocate for nursing home residents who have suffered abuse and neglect. When families take the heart-wrenching step of putting their loved ones in nursing homes, they assume their relatives will be secure, well cared for, and safe from harm. A Louisiana rapid weight loss or hair loss lawyer can help you bring negligent nursing homes to justice and help prevent similar harm to other residents.
We realize that financial concerns may be significant after an incident of nursing home abuse or neglect. After all, extensive medical treatment for your loved ones and paying for their transfer to another nursing home or facility can be extremely expensive.
However, we can take your claim on a contingency-fee-basis, which means you do not have to worry about finding the money to pay us upfront. We only receive payment for our work once you and your loved ones receive financial awards for your injuries. While you focus on your loved one’s health and care, we can focus on pursuing your case.
Call (800) 842-6336 to learn more today about how to get started during a free consultation.
Call or text (800) 842-6336 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
