Although a nursing home may have a good public-facing image, sometimes what goes on behind closed doors can be much less wholesome. If your parent’s blood work shows signs of malnourishment, you may be alarmed and fearful, yet without any idea of how to respond. With the help of a Peoria, IL nursing home neglect attorney, you can file a claim against the facility to get compensation for the damage done to your parent’s health.
At Nursing Home Injury Center, we take elder malnourishment in nursing homes very seriously. When you work with our firm, you will receive involved legal representation and advice as we work to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Adverse Health Outcomes Caused by Malnourishment in Nursing Homes
Malnourishment in nursing homes can present in different ways. Telltale signs of malnourishment in the elderly may include:
- Unhealthy complexion
- Drastic weight loss
- Dizziness
- Chronic fatigue
- Gaps in memory
- Bleeding gums
- Dangerously low blood pressure
If you have any reason to suspect that your parent is not receiving adequate care at a nursing home, do not wait to act. Getting blood work done can reveal underlying damage caused by malnutrition, like high cholesterol, infections, or organ failure. Preserving and documenting the results of a blood test is important, as it may serve as critical evidence to prove wrongdoing on the part of the nursing home.
The Causes of Malnourishment in Nursing Home Residents
Malnourishment occurs when the body is not supplied with enough nutrients to function at a healthy level. When a nursing home fails to provide its residents with healthy meals, those residents may start to experience widespread malnutrition.
Some nursing home residents have specific dietary needs that must be observed, such as carefully cutting up food or avoiding specific foods that trigger allergic reactions. When these dietary needs are overlooked, residents may be left to slowly waste away until a blood test reveals that proper procedures are not being observed. At Nursing Home Injury Center, we can help you identify malnourishment in your parent and advise you of your options for taking legal action.
Do Nursing Homes Cover Up Evidence of Malnourishment?
A case of malnourishment can reflect very poorly on a nursing home. More than that, it could expose the facility to potential liability with a costly price. As such, a nursing home may take certain measures to avoid accusations of malnutrition. This might entail passive obstruction, like not reporting negative health outcomes. In other cases, however, the nursing home might engage in an active cover-up to avoid lawsuits.
To avoid claims of malnourishment, a nursing home may deflect accusations by shifting the blame to your parent’s pre-existing health conditions. In other cases, the facility might make it unnecessarily difficult to access a resident’s medical records to deter people from looking into blood work. At Nursing Home Injury Center, we can launch a full investigation into the facility to help uncover proof of malnourishment.
Can Nursing Homes Be Held Accountable for Harm Done to Their Residents?
If your parent has suffered from malnourishment in a nursing home, you can take legal action against the facility. By filing a personal injury claim, you can get compensation for your parent’s medical expenses as well as any pain and suffering that he or she may have experienced.
Keep in mind that nursing homes often have the resources to defend against claims of liability. This can make filing a claim on your own an uphill battle, especially if you do not have a comprehensive understanding of Illinois law. By working with an Illinois nursing home neglect attorney, you can navigate this process with confidence and strong legal backing.
Building a Case for a Malnourishment Claim in a Nursing Home
To obtain compensation for your parent’s unjustified malnourishment, you will have to demonstrate that the nursing home was responsible for your parent’s decline in health. This is no easy feat, since as previously mentioned, nursing homes often try to avoid admitting responsibility for any harm done.
At Nursing Home Injury Center, we can help you build a case for a malnourishment claim. We will compile all of the available evidence, such as a physician’s report, testimony from other residents, and details about the meals served at the facility. All good personal injury claims are built on a solid foundation of evidence, so we will do everything we can to procure proof for your case.
Mistakes in Malnourishment Claims
Filing a personal injury claim can be intimidating for anybody who is unfamiliar with the process. Nursing homes and the insurance companies that represent them may take advantage of a claimant’s lack of legal knowledge to avoid paying a full settlement.
During negotiations for a settlement, the representative for the nursing home may ask about your parent’s pre-existing conditions so that they can avoid liability. In other cases, the nursing home may offer a settlement upfront that is worth far less than the actual worth of your claim. At Nursing Home Injury Center, we can help you maneuver around these tactics to protect your best interests.
What Happens if the Nursing Home Refuses to Settle?
When negotiations for a settlement fail outside of court, you may become understandably despondent. However, this does not mean your case is over. If the nursing home refuses to pay you what your claim is worth, you can take them to court and begin litigating for a favorable verdict from a judge.
Litigation can be a high-pressure environment. You will have to make an aggressive argument backed by an understanding of the law and strong evidence. At Nursing Home Injury Center, we can take the lead during trials, presenting your case with confidence.
Meet With a Peoria, IL Nursing Home Neglect Attorney Today
At Nursing Home Injury Center, your case matters to us. We understand just how important your parent’s health is to you and will do everything we can to advocate for fair, full compensation on your behalf. Our Peoria County, IL nursing home injury lawyers are here to advocate for your parent’s rights in cases of malnutrition. To schedule a free consultation today, call our offices at 309-524-6900.
