Families trust nursing homes to provide proper care and support for their elderly loved ones. Sadly, dehydration and malnutrition in Prairieville nursing homes remain serious problems that put the lives of residents at risk. These conditions are almost always preventable and are, therefore, indicators of neglect. The consequences of dehydration and malnutrition can include severe illness, hospitalization, or even death.
At Tomeny | Best, we know the heartbreak families face when a loved one suffers due to inadequate care. An attorney could help you pursue compensation and hold a negligent facility accountable, protecting your loved one as well as other residents and their families.
Why Do Dehydration and Malnutrition Occur?
Nursing home residents rely on staff for meals, fluids, and help with their daily needs. When facilities fail to provide these essentials, the health of their residents declines rapidly. In Prairieville nursing homes, cases of dehydration and malnutrition often arise due to understaffing, poor training, or indifference to individualized care. For example, staff may not sufficiently help residents who struggle to swallow or are unable to feed themselves, or they may fail to monitor fluid intake or respond to signs of weight loss.
These lapses are more than just mistakes. Louisiana law requires facilities to maintain proper standards of care and, therefore, considers such behavior to be neglect.
Health Consequences for Residents
The health effects of dehydration and malnutrition can be devastating. Residents may experience recurring infections, confusion, fatigue, and delayed wound healing. More serious consequences include kidney failure, bedsores, or life-threatening conditions, such as sepsis. Beyond the physical toll, malnutrition and dehydration can also cause emotional harm, stripping residents of their dignity and independence.
A Prairieville lawyer could help you pursue special damages for the cost of hospital care and long-term treatment required following your loved one suffering dehydration or malnutrition in their nursing home. You may also seek general damages for pain, suffering, and loss of companionship. In cases where facilities knowingly ignored clear warning signs, punitive damages may also apply.
Warning Signs Families Should Recognize
As a family member, you will often notice the first indicators of neglect. Sudden weight loss, persistent fatigue, cracked lips, or frequent infections may suggest dehydration or malnutrition. Residents who appear unusually withdrawn or confused may also be suffering due to neglect. When staff cannot provide reasonable explanations for your loved one’s condition or they dismiss your concerns, you should take action.
If you see any signs of malnutrition or dehydration in a Prairieville nursing home, request medical evaluations and demand answers from the facility. Nursing homes have a duty to respond immediately, and failure to act could make them legally liable.
How an Attorney Could Help With Your Neglect Case
In Prairieville, proving that malnutrition and dehydration are the result of nursing home neglect requires strong evidence. At Tomeny | Best, we gather medical records, consult with healthcare experts, and review facility practices to show how staff failed in their responsibilities. We also demonstrate how the neglect impacted your loved one’s health and quality of life.
Our attorneys handle the process from start to finish, preparing evidence, shaping arguments, and advocating for full and fair compensation. By letting us take on the legal burden, you can focus on supporting your loved one’s recovery.
Call Tomeny | Best in Prairieville if Your Loved One Suffered Dehydration or Malnutrition in Their Nursing Home
Dehydration and malnutrition in Prairieville nursing homes can cause long-lasting harm. You should not be left to bear the emotional and financial burden when a facility neglects its duty of care. We fight for the accountability, dignity, and compensation your family deserves.
Call Tomeny | Best today to speak with a lawyer who understands how to protect your loved one and pursue justice for the neglect they suffered.
