Dehydration and Nursing Home Abuse (Part 2)

As a continuation of Dehydration and Nursing Home Abuse (Part 1)¸ the following presents some more information regarding dehydration as a form of nursing home abuse and neglect. While Part 1 of this blog focused on presenting some of the most common signs and symptoms of dehydration in nursing home residents, here in Part 2, we will take a closer look at some of the factors that may contribute to dehydration in nursing home residents, as well as the potential health complications associated with untreated dehydration.

Factors that May Contribute to Dehydration in Nursing Home Residents

Dehydration is especially likely to afflict nursing home residents when:

• Nursing home staff members are not properly trained to recognize the signs of dehydration and/or how to respond when they do notice that patients are dehydrated.
• Nursing homes do not employ enough staff members, preventing staff from being able to spend enough time with and regularly check on all of the residents in the home. 

Tragically, such conditions can play a role in the fact that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 40 percent of all nursing home residents in the U.S. suffer from dehydration and/or malnutrition at some point during their stay in nursing homes.

Dehydration Complications

According to the CDC, nursing home residents who are 85 to 99 years old are about six times more likely to suffer from severe dehydration than younger residents. When severe dehydration occurs, the related complications can be serious and potentially deadly. Specifically, some of the complications associated with severe dehydration may include:

• Inflammation of the brain
• Seizures
• Dangerously low blood pressure, which can cause potentially fatal drops in the amount of oxygen in the blood stream
• Kidney failure
• Coma.

Mount Vernon Nursing Home Abuse and Personal Injury Lawyers

At the law firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C., our experienced Mount Vernon nursing home abuse and personal injury lawyers have been providing client-centered representation to our Southern Illinois clients since 1950. Our trusted attorneys focus on our clients’ needs, we are passionate about our clients, and we do everything we can to help them get the maximum possible compensation for their losses and injuries so they can focus on recovery and moving on with their life.

We take pride in tailoring our legal representation to specifically meet our clients’ needs and in expertly guiding them through each stage of the complex the legal process. While our attorneys are aggressive and effective litigators both inside and outside of the courtroom, we are also counselors that can provide our clients with helpful legal advice regarding their best options.

If your elderly loved one has been diagnosed with severe dehydration after being admitted to a nursing home – or if you suspect that your loved one has suffered from any type of nursing home abuse, contact us by calling (888) 896-9381 or by emailing us using the form at the upper right-hand side of the page. We can provide you with a free, thorough assessment of your case, along with professional advice regarding the best manner in which to move forward.