No one should have to suffer from rapid weight loss or hair loss because of abuse or negligence in nursing homes. If your loved one has experienced injuries from the negligence of a nursing home or its staff, you may be entitled to recover damages. Contact the Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 842-6336 for a free case evaluation.
Nursing Home Neglect Can Cause Serious Health Issues
A nursing home should give residents freedom, care, and compassion. Unfortunately, some of these institutions hire improperly trained personnel or are understaffed. This makes way for poor morale and negligence of care. In some cases, abuse and neglect are not intentional, but patients may end up suffering as a result. When nursing home management attempts to shortchange their services to cut costs, it can be very dangerous for the residents.
According to MedlinePlus, unexplained weight loss is one of the signs that indicate nursing home abuse. This involves the sudden loss of five percent of a resident’s body weight, which is around ten pounds. Other symptoms that can come with sudden weight loss are:
- Loss of hair
- Cannot regulate body temperature
- Drastic mood changes
Once an elderly person rapidly loses weight in a nursing home, it can also be an indication of an undiagnosed illness that may have developed due to neglect.
Weight Loss and Hair Loss in a Nursing Home Resident
Depending on what caused the weight loss or hair loss, these events can intensify a person’s existing medical conditions or result in an entirely new condition. The nursing home staff has a duty to monitor the weight of each resident. If they notice weight loss, they need to adjust meal plans to help maintain the ideal weight of residents.
Weight loss is normal for the elderly. However, drastic reductions can indicate serious health concerns. Weight loss in those who reside in nursing homes can represent the level of care they receive from employees and the administration. Extreme weight loss can indicate neglect by the caregiver or the institution as a whole.
Weight loss can lead to hair loss. Hair loss can also happen if residents are anxious since stress can lead residents to pull out their hair or their hair to fall out. If stress coincides with weight loss and hair loss, you may also notice symptoms such as:
- Muscle tension
- Irritability
- Problems with digestion
- Low energy
- Headaches
People who have not dealt with hair loss before may not understand what is causing the problem. Because of embarrassment, they may feel the need to downplay or hide this problem.
When the institution that promised to take care of them breached their obligation by not upholding adequate standards of care, they need to be held accountable.
You may be entitled to pursue recovery of damages that can include:
- Cost of facility relocation
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Funeral and burial costs, if deceased
A Philadelphia rapid weight loss or hair loss lawyer can advocate for the wellbeing of your loved one in a nursing home and help you decide which types of awards you can pursue. Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today for more information.
Sufficient Nutrition Is Critical for Well-Being
Excessive weight loss in the elderly happens when a person does not have adequate nutrients in their body. This can impair their cognitive processing and mobility. Hair loss can also be caused by a lack of nutrients.
If a resident takes certain medications, they may also experience constipation, which can lead to weight loss if the caretakers do not address this concern right away. Malnutrition can also lead to other complications such as:
- Vulnerability to illnesses
- Weak immune system
- Depression
- Weak bones
- Skin damage
When a resident has weakened bones because of lack of nutrition, they become more prone to fractures. They are also more at risk of slip and fall accidents because their balance is affected.
A Philadelphia Rapid Weight Loss or Hair Loss Lawyer Can Help
Once you notice your loved one’s hair loss or weight loss, you need to ask their caregiver if they can explain what is happening. If they do not have a rational explanation, this may indicate that your loved one is experiencing neglect or abuse. Alternatively, the nursing home administration and staff may not document the patient’s nutritional intake regularly, so it may be difficult to determine the cause of rapid weight loss.
While the abuse or neglect of nursing homes may seem obvious, you still need to prove your claims in court. Some may find this hard to do because some residents already have pre-existing conditions, and their health is expected to decline during their stay.
However, you can further investigate these circumstances through evidence such as:
- Photos
- Videos
- Testimony
- Medical records
- Previous reports on the nursing home
A Philadelphia rapid weight loss or hair loss lawyer can help you uphold justice within the state’s two-year statute of limitations, as Title 42 §5524 enforces.
Seek Assistance from a Philadelphia Rapid Weight Loss or Hair Loss Lawyer Today
A Philadelphia rapid weight loss or hair loss lawyer can help you prove that the weight loss and hair loss that your loved one experienced was due to the negligence of the staff and the administration of a nursing home. Nursing homes have a duty to provide proper care for their residents. If they fail to do this, they should be held accountable.
If your loved one has experienced rapid weight loss or hair loss while under the care of a nursing home, you may be entitled to recover damages. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 842-6336 for a free and no-obligation case consultation.