Lack of Nutrition & Malnutrition | Negligence in New Mexico Nursing Homes

Did you know that New Mexico has the worst nursing homes in the nation? It’s true, according to a recent report that looked at the number of serious deficiencies on a per nursing home basis in facilities across the country. The report found that nearly half the nursing homes in the state were in violation of regulations.

Negligence in New Mexico nursing homes is a serious problem facing our state today that is not often discussed. That’s why our team has compiled information on the most common types of New Mexico nursing home negligence. Read on to find out the most common types of nursing home neglect and find out what symptoms to be on the lookout for in your elderly loved ones, as well as information on contacting a lawyer.

Many people don’t realize it, but dehydration is the most common type of nursing home negligence experienced by residents at assisted living facilities. Elderly adults are more prone to dehydration, because our bodies retain less water as we age. Although it is easier for elderly adults to become dehydrated than their younger counterparts, dehydration is still immensely preventable—but it occurs shockingly often, frequently because many nursing home facilities are dangerously understaffed.

One study that involved monitoring the fluid intake of nursing home residents found that nearly all of the patients were inadequately hydrated. What’s worse, more than half of these residents had illnesses that may have been caused by dehydration.

Dehydration can lead to extremely serious complications, including brain swelling, seizures, kidney failure, coma, and sometimes, even death. And the effects of dehydration are even worse for people who are already in poor health, making it even more dangerous for many nursing home residents. For all of these reasons, dehydration is considered a form of New Mexico nursing home negligence.

Early signs of dehydration include thirst, dry mouth, dry skin, and sporadic urination. Severe dehydration symptoms include confusion, muscle cramping, difficulty walking, rapid heart rate, sunken eyes, low blood pressure, and an inability to sweat. If you’ve noticed several of these symptoms in your loved one and they are living in a nursing home, you should consider consulting a nursing home injury lawyer as soon as possible.

Malnutrition is another form of negligence that is frighteningly common among nursing home residents in the United States. There are 1.6 million residents of nursing homes in the U.S., and it is estimated that as many as one third of these elderly adults are suffering from malnutrition and/or dehydration. In fact, some researchers estimate that between thirty and fifty percent of nursing home residents are underweight due to a lack of adequate nutrition.

For this reason, it’s crucial to keep an eye on your loved one to make sure their nutritional needs are being met during their time in an assisted living facility. If you notice weight loss, canker sores, yellowed skin, irritability, muscle fatigue, or red, glassy eyes, you should know that these are all symptoms of malnourishment.

If you have reason to believe that your loved one has suffered from dehydration or malnutrition while living in a nursing home, you should contact a qualified nursing home injury lawyer to discuss your options. An experienced nursing home negligence lawyer in New Mexico can help you determine whether or not you have the grounds for a claim, and can help you pursue compensation for any damages your family has suffered.

Our New Mexico nursing home negligence lawyers at Carabin Shaw have been handling elder abuse claims for more than two decades, and we want to help you and your family in any way we can. And we offer all new clients a no cost, confidential consultation with an attorney—meaning you have nothing to lose by giving us a call. So call our office today for a free consultation with an attorney at 915-779-2301 to find out what an experienced lawyer serving New Mexico can do for you.