Nursing Home Malnutrition Attorney

How is Malnutrition Treated?

As a caregiver of a nursing home or extended care facility resident, specific steps should be taken to monitor nutritional health. If necessary, specific treatment for elder malnutrition should be applied. Nursing home staff members and employees should note any weight loss on the part of a senior, and address any resulting risk factors of malnutrition immediately.

When caring for seniors, the Mayo Clinic advises elder caregivers to keep in mind the following:

• Monitor a patient’s weight: Help the senior check his or her weight on a regular basis. Maintain a weekly record, and be sure to note any changes in how a patient’s clothes fit, as this can indicate significant weight loss.
• Observe a patient’s eating habits: During mealtime in a nursing home or extended care facility, caregivers should carefully observe a patient’s eating habits. Monitor what types of food are eaten, as well as the amount of food ingested. Keeping a weekly measure of caloric intake is advisable.
• Keep track of a patient’s medications: Keeping a record of all medications prescribed to a patient – including the reason for each medication, the dosages, treatment schedules, and possible side effects – is critical for proper care.
• Provide assistance with meal plans: Caregivers should help seniors and the elderly choose nutritious foods and maintain a well-balanced diet (i.e. selecting nutritious fruits and vegetables available).
  Make meals social events: Nursing homes and extended care facilities should make efforts to ensure meals are engaging social events that encourage regular attendance by residents and patients. Encouraging participation in social programs where members of the community can eat together is advised.
• Encourage regular physical activity: Nursing home staff members should understand the importance of daily exercise and implement a regular schedule. All forms of physical activity, even low intensity weight training, can help elders by stimulating appetite and strengthening bones and muscles.

If your nursing home or extended care facility is failing to take the above steps to help residents maintain proper nutrition, negligence may be involved. Accordingly, this type of negligence may, in the event of injury, disease, or death, warrant a nursing home malnutrition civil lawsuit.

In terms of improving a nursing home resident’s nutrition, mealtime strategies have been identified by medical professionals. There are certain steps that an extended care facility should take to help ensure older adults maintain a healthy diet and good eating habits. Some of these steps include:

• Nutrient-rich foods: Facilities should plan and provide meals with nutrient-rich foods that include a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, and lean meats.
• Herbs and spices: Facilities should use herbs and spices to add flavor to meals and improve elder interest in eating. Experimenting to find personal favorites among patients is recommended.
• Healthy snacks: Facilities should plan and provide nutrient-rich snacks between meals with fruits, vegetables, or low-fat dairy products.
• Nutritional supplements: Facilities should use supplemental nutrition drinks to help increase calorie intake. Egg whites or whey powder can easily be added to meals to increase proteins (without adding harmful saturated fats in the process).