Dehydration in Michigan Nursing Home Residents
Our Michigan nursing home neglect attorneys at Buckfire & Buckfire P.Chandle cases on behalf of patients who suffer injuries from dehydration in Michigan nursing home, assisted care facility or hospital. These can be fatal conditions, particularly for the elderly. Dehydration can be a sign that a patient has been neglected by the nursing home staff. Dehydration occurs when a person experiences an abnormal loss of water from the body, which can be the result of illness or physical exertion.
Severe dehydration in the elderly can be fatal and is a common reason for hospitalization. Elderly residents have less fluid content in the body, about 10 percent less than that of an adult who in under the age of 65. This is one of the main factors that elderly are at an increased risk of dehydration. Other factors include: physiological changes associated with aging, like reduced sense of thirst and loss of appetite.
Signs of Dehydration in Resident at Michigan Nursing Home
Dehydration in the elderly can be the cause of side effects of medications and other medical problems, like high blood sugar, diarrhea, vomiting, heat, heat stroke, infections, and at times, exercise. Often, the signs of dehydration are mild and vague. They are more or less similar to dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms. However, dehydration can also be the cause of the nursing home staff failing to take proper care of the resident. Following are some of the common signs of dehydration in nursing home residents.
- Confusion
- Muscle weakness
- Constipation
- Sunken eyes
- Dizziness
- Irritability
- Fever
- Pneumonia
- Disorientation
- Urinary tract infections
- Tachycardia
- Weight loss
- Dry and poor elasticity skin
- Less urine output
- Increased heart rate
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Increased infections
If any of these symptoms is observed in a patient at the Michigan nursing home, it is the responsibility of the nursing home care facility to take measures to reduce the risk of the fatal results. The best way to check dehydration among the elderly is monitoring the body weight on a daily basis. Dehydration is mild, if the weight value is reduced by 2 percent; whereas, it is severe in case of 5 percent (or more) loss of body weight. The failure to prevent these conditions and then treat them before they become too severe is often due to negligence and can give rise to a Michigan nursing home neglect lawsuit. In addition, if a resident suffers injuries from dehydration due to the negligent care of the nursing home and its staff, this can also give rise to a lawsuit against the facility.
Michigan Nursing Home Neglect Dehydration Lawyers No Fee Promise
Our Michigan nursing home neglect lawyers will represent you in your dehydration case under our No Fee Promise. This means that you will not be charged any legal fees whatsoever unless we obtain a settlement or recovery for you. You have absolutely no obligation for legal fees unless we win your case. If we do not obtain a settlement for you, you owe us nothing!
Contact a Michigan Nursing Home Neglect Dehydration Lawyer
If you suspect your family member is suffering injuries from dehydration due to the negligence of the Michigan nursing home, you should contact our Michigan nursing home neglect dehydration attorneys immediately! Call us now at (800) 606-1717 to speak with one of our experienced Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. lawyers about your case. We will start working on your case immediately gathering all the evidence and witness statements to prove and win your case. Call today for your free consultation!
