Nursing homes lacking feeding assistance endanger residents by increasing the risk of malnutrition, dehydration and episodes of choking
Nursing homes lacking feeding assistance endanger residents by increasing the risk of malnutrition, dehydration and episodes of choking. As a nursing home abuse lawyer handling cases primarily in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee Counties in Florida, one of the most common threats to nursing home residents I see is in the area of food service and a lack of feeding assistance. In my opinion, local nursing homes and assisted living facilities are failing residents who require feeding assistance. This may surprise some people; however, the dietary departments of many nursing homes and assisted living facilities pose a real risk of harm to their residents. With nursing homes and assisted living facilities that are understaffed, there may be no greater time of risk to residents than when it comes to meal time. Of course, people who are admitted to nursing homes, whether for long term care or for short term rehabilitation, should receive at least three nutritious meals per day plus periodic snacks and beverages. This is also true for residents of assisted living facilities. If a resident requires feeding assistance in an assisted living facility, the question should asked as to whether that resident continues to be appropriate for an assisted living environment,
Many nursing home residents require feeding assistance with such things as reaching the tray on which the meal is served, tray set up, and feeding — i.e., actually getting food off of the plate and into the resident’s mouth. Too often, nursing home staff carelessly place the meal tray just out of reach of a resident where the food sits and becomes cold. Nursing home malnutrition claims many lives of the elderly in Florida each year. Other times, dietary aids in the nursing home will deliver the wrong food to a resident: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to a resident who possesses swallowing difficulties and has a physician order in place for a mechanically altered or pureed diet. This frequently has grave consequences; choking, aspiration pneumonia and death.
Fighting to Improve the Quality of Care
Within the past year, I have filed numerous lawsuits against area nursing homes that neglected the nutritional needs of their residents. The harm caused by their corrupt practices has prematurely ended lives and devastated families. The federal Nursing Home Reform Act requires nursing homes to meet specific standards when it comes to food services and nutrition in order to maintain the health, safety and well-being of each resident. When a nursing home fails to meet these requirements, I seek to hold them accountable.
Call Jim if you have questions regarding nursing home or assisted living facility abuse or neglect for a free, confidential consultation at (941) 485-7600
If you wish to discuss a nursing home abuse or neglect claim with a lawyer who has over twenty years of experience, please feel free to call me, Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer, James Keim, toll free at (844) 485-7600 or locally at (941) 485-7600. I am familiar with most of the nursing homes that operate in Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice, North Port, Englewood, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, and surrounding Florida communities. Please feel free to call me today.
