Indianapolis Nursing Home Weight Loss Attorney
If you believe that your loved one is experiencing nursing home abuse in the form of excessive weight loss, Hankey Marks & Crider can help. Weight loss is a slow but dangerous form of nursing abuse that is sometimes difficult to detect. According to a study by the National Library of Medicine’s National Institute of Health, unhealthy weight loss in a nursing home resident can be defined as a loss equal to or less than 5% of their weight within a month, or 10% within three months. Knowing the symptoms and causes of weight loss in nursing homes can help you protect your loved ones from this preventable form of abuse.
The experienced Indianapolis nursing home weight loss at Hankey Marks & Crider are committed to holding those who harmed your family accountable. Allowing a nursing home resident to go through unnecessary weight loss is a very difficult type of abuse to detect, but you and your family may be entitled to compensation for the suffering that has been inflicted. Call Hankey Marks & Crider today at (317) 634-8565 to learn more about your legal options.
Do I Need an Attorney?
Seeking justice on your own for a loved one who has suffered nursing home abuse is a difficult task that rarely ends well for the victim. Nursing homes are powerful institutions that have aggressive attorneys in place to protect their interests. Standing up to a nursing home lawyer requires someone equally aggressive and experienced in the difficult area of nursing home abuse. Our Indianapolis nursing home abuse lawyers at Hankey Marks & Crider know how to investigate the causes of weight loss abuse in nursing homes and litigate the claims in court. Proving that nursing home abuse is occurring can be challenging, especially if the victim is reluctant, scared, or mentally compromised. Having a nursing home abuse attorney is essential to a successful outcome for you and your loved ones.
Why Choose Hankey Marks & Crider?
The Indianapolis personal injury lawyers at Hankey Marks & Crider have a combined 75 years of experience in serving victims and their families. Our legal team treats each client with professionalism and compassion, doing all we can to produce a successful outcome and make sure every client is satisfied. When a loved one has experienced excessive weight loss in a nursing home, you want the best Indianapolis nursing home negligence lawyer to help you seek justice. Our attorneys have the knowledge and resources you need to stand up for your loved ones. Contact us today at (317) 634-8565 for a free consultation.
What Are the Causes and Symptoms of Weight Loss?
Weight loss in the elderly is an overlooked form of nursing abuse that nonetheless causes serious harm. Nursing home residents may lose weight when they are being neglected and not receiving adequate care. Weight loss occurs among the elderly for a number of reasons. For example, the elderly often have low appetites, and if they are not encouraged to eat, they may fail to get the proper nutrition they need. Weight loss can also occur among nursing home residents who are mentally impaired because, again, they may not understand the importance of eating enough. Essentially, weight loss is a sign that nursing home residents are suffering from neglect. If they were receiving the proper attention and treatment they need from trained staff, their dietary needs would be met, and they would not suffer the harmful effects of weight loss.
Nursing Home Abuse and Weight Loss Statistics
According to the American Journal of Nursing, weight loss in nursing home residents can lead to higher rates of hospitalization, and it can even cause death in extreme cases. Unintentional weight loss in a nursing home resident is defined as a loss of 5% of body weight in 30 days or a 10% loss of body weight in 180 days. The Vanderbilt Center for Quality Aging reports that nine out of ten nursing homes in the United States do not have adequate staff to provide mealtime assistance to residents. This startling statistic helps explain why most nursing home residents are at risk of weight loss or dehydration due to insufficient food and drink consumption. Without vigilant staff to track residents’ caloric intake, residents often fail to receive the proper amount and type of nutrients they need to counter the aging process. Weight loss leads to increased risk of hospitalization and death, as well as decreased ability to fight off infection or illness.
Contact Us
Most nursing homes are staffed with caring and competent people who do all they can to properly care for the residents, but some nursing homes are not, and they should be held accountable for their neglect. Whether that means being more selective in who they hire, firing those who do not meet industry standards, or enforcing rules to protect their residents better, nursing homes should do all they can to protect their residents from all kinds of nursing home abuse, including weight loss. If a loved one has experienced significant weight loss because of nursing home abuse or neglect, filing a claim helps hold the nursing home accountable and prevent further abuse from happening to others. Hankey Marks & Crider is ready to help protect your loved one from further abuse and get your family the compensation you deserve. Do your part and contact us today at (317) 634-8565.