We put our loved ones in the care of nursing homes, expecting that they will be safe and their needs will be met. Unfortunately, far too often, that is not the reality. Our law firm has seen over and over again the tragic consequences of nursing homes failing to care for their residents. One highly concerning warning sign of nursing home neglect is extreme weight loss.
Causes of weight loss in nursing homes
While some degree of weight loss is normal as part of the aging process, the sudden loss of either 10 or more pounds or 5% of a resident’s normal body weight is cause for immediate concern, especially if accompanied by loss of hair, mood changes, or body temperature changes. Some of the causes of significant weight loss in nursing homes include:
- Depression and other psychological issues such as paranoia
- Medications or medication changes
- Difficulty eating or swallowing
- Increased energy usage as a result of wandering
- Malnutrition and dehydration
Sudden weight loss may be a warning sign of a new, undiagnosed medical condition, medication interactions or side effects, or nursing home abuse and neglect. That’s why it’s important for families to take weight loss seriously and demand answers from the facility.
How nursing home abuse and neglect contributes to weight loss
Nursing homes need to monitor residents’ weight and take action to address the situation if a resident is losing dangerous amounts of weight. Unfortunately, sometimes the situation is just the opposite: the nursing home’s own negligence is the cause. Weight loss can be a warning sign of:
- Basic needs neglect: Nursing homes need to provide residents with nutritious meals and monitor them during mealtimes to ensure that they are actually getting all the food and drink they need.
- Medication errors: Giving a resident the wrong medication or the wrong dosage can cause weight loss as a side effect or fail to treat a medical condition that causes weigh loss.
- Medical neglect: Weight loss can indicate that the resident has an undiagnosed and untreated medical condition that the nursing home could have more effectively managed.
- Physical and emotional abuse: Nursing home abuse can exacerbate mental health disorders that cause weight loss.
- Failure to monitor residents: Weight loss can also be a sign of wandering or elopement, which in turn is a failure to supervise residents on the part of the facility.
Stay involved in your loved one’s care – and get legal advice if needed
Again, because weight loss is so concerning, it’s important for families to keep an eye on their loved ones and spot the warning signs. If your loved one appears thin or shows other warning signs like hair loss or changes in body temperature, or if those conditions get worse over time, tell the facility about your concerns. Make sure to document the report in writing so they can’t claim ignorance. And talk to an experienced nursing home neglect attorney who can advise you of your loved one’s legal rights and options.
For decades, attorney Perry Shuttlesworth and his legal team at Shuttlesworth Law Firm, P.C. have been standing up for the rights of nursing home residents in Birmingham and throughout Alabama. If you suspect your loved one has been abused or neglected in a nursing home, give us a call or contact us online today.
