Florida Nursing Home Lawyer Blog
For nursing home patients, proper nutrition is critical to health and well-being.
Unfortunately, neglect, failure to monitor patients, and general nutritional deficiencies can lead to serious health consequences and disease. According to a recent report, the elderly, especially those under nursing home care, can benefit from a soft food diet. As we age, our dietary requirements will change and should be closely monitored. In addition to eating a variety of foods, there are specific foods that should also be incorporated into an aging person’s diet to improve health and prevent disease.
Patients who are under nursing home care should be closely monitored to ensure that they are getting proper nutritional care. If you suspect that your loved one has not been eating properly or has suffered injury or disease because of nutritional deficiencies, you may be able to take legal action. Our Fort Lauderdale nursing home injury attorneys are dedicated to protecting the rights of victims and families. We will also take a strategic approach to hold nursing homes accountable in the event that an elderly person suffers an injury as a result of abuse or neglect.
Proper nutrition for an elderly person can be complicated. Doctors may have to monitor food intake to make sure that it is compatible with medications. In addition, the elderly may have additional nutritional demands, depending on existing medical conditions. To complicate nutritional needs, many elderly persons eat less or are not interested in food the way that they used to be. One reason is that they are not as active, but they also may burn fewer calories as a result of muscle deterioration. Nursing homes have a duty to ensure that patients are getting their nutritional needs met.
Nursing homes must make sure that meals are properly balanced and that patients are eating their meals. For some elderly patients, chewing or swallowing may be difficult because of illness, weakness, or dentures. In these cases, nurses and other caretakers should consider a soft food diet with foods that are easy to chew, including soups or oatmeal. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines also recommend that older adults get sufficient dairy products, proteins from fish, and dietary fiber. Milk products can boost calcium to keep bones healthy and prevent osteoporosis. Proteins can improve immunity and fiber can ensure proper digestion.
In the event of malnutrition, patients can suffer from disease, illness and other signs of deterioration. Osteoporosis can set in, especially for older women, if patients are not getting enough calcium. Iron deprivation can leave elderly with low-energy and other deficiencies. Since the elderly are already more prone to disease and stroke, failure to meet nutritional requirements can increase the chances a serious medical condition.
Unfortunately, for-profit nursing homes are often negligent when it comes to meeting nutritional requirements for individual patients. If you believe that your loved one has suffered an injury, illness, or death because of negligence, you may be able to take legal action. An experienced advocate can review the facts of your case and help you take legal action against a negligent nursing home care facility.
Call Freeman Injury Law — 1-800-561-7777 for a free appointment to discuss your case.
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