When placing a loved one in a nursing home in Connecticut, the family of the elderly or infirm person is expecting there to be a reasonable standard of care provided. Unfortunately, there are times when the nursing home staff does not live up to its role as a caregiver and fails to provide the proper liquids and nutrition to the residents. This can lead to dehydration and malnutrition and can result in illness or even death. Families who believe this type of nursing home negligence has taken place need to know how to pursue compensation in a legal filing.
Since people would not be in a nursing home at all if they were able to care for themselves, it is imperative that the staff makes certain that they eat, get the right nutrition and any supplements that they are supposed to get to maintain health. When a person who lives in a nursing home shows signs of illness, needs to be hospitalized or even dies, knowing the signs of malnutrition or dehydration is key to proceeding with a lawsuit.
There are certain indicators that there is malnutrition or dehydration. They include the person losing weight rapidly, having dental problems, experiencing memory loss, exhibiting skin with a yellow pallor, looking flushed, having seizures, having difficulty breathing, showing dry skin, suffering from diarrhea, having infections in the mouth and more. With incidents such as these, garnering evidence with medical records and charts is paramount to having a full investigation. There can be proof in the records to verify what is visible and what the resident says is happening.
Since the failure to provide the proper care with something as simple as giving a resident food, drink and necessary supplements is an inexplicable violation on the part of the nursing home staff, any illness or death that results from it warrants compensation. Discussing the matter with an attorney experienced in pursuing cases related to nursing home neglect is the first step.
