According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), nursing home neglect can include withholding food from your elderly parent or spouse. The Mayo Clinic research cites the dangers of malnutrition in elderly citizens, including:
- Weakened immune system
- Greater risk of contracting infections
- Insufficient wound healing
- Weakened muscles
- Diminishing bone mass
- Higher risk of hospitalization
- Higher probability of death
If someone you love was underfed, denied food, or suffered from other circumstances that led to their becoming malnourished in a Boca Raton nursing home, you might have a strong case for financial compensation. A Boca Raton malnutrition lawyer may be able to help you build your compensation claim. Contact the Boca Raton nursing home abuse lawyer at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine by calling us today.
Malnutrition in Boca Raton Nursing Homes
To a layperson, it can seem as though lack of food is the only cause of malnutrition. For seniors living in nursing homes who rely on caregivers to provide healthy, nutritious, and plentiful food, lack of food is not the only cause of malnutrition. According to MedlinePlus, causes of malnutrition include:
- Lack of adequate nutrients in your loved one’s diet
- A nutritionally unbalanced diet
- Medical conditions that make nutrient absorption difficult
The food your loved one is served in their nursing home should supply them with the nutrition they need for a healthy, well-balanced diet. If you believe your loved one’s diet in their nursing home is inadequate in amount or in nutritional content, look for these symptoms of malnutrition:
- Unexplained fatigue
- Persistent dizziness
- Unexplained weight loss
If you become aware of these symptoms, request health care for your loved one immediately. Their health care team can conduct a physical examination, perform blood tests, and evaluate their diet to reach a conclusive diagnosis. If your loved one is diagnosed with malnutrition, their health care team can take steps to restore their health as fully as possible with medications, nutritional support, and increased food intake.
Financial Resolutions After a Malnutrition Diagnosis
Was your elderly mother, father, spouse, or sibling recently diagnosed with malnutrition while they were a resident of a Boca Raton nursing home? If your loved one was diagnosed with malnutrition related to the care that they received in their nursing home, you may be able to recoup the costs of their:
- Diagnostic tests and exams
- Full range of medical care
- Relocation to a safe facility
- Necessary nutritional support
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional angst
You might also be able to recover the costs to replace the lost wages and income you forego to care for your loved one and transport them to and from health care appointments. If you need assistance understanding the type and amount of compensation you are entitled to, a member of our team may be able to help you accurately assess the value of your claim and file your potential lawsuit on time.
Time Matters in a Malnutrition Claim
In Boca Raton, the timeline for collecting compensation via a nursing home abuse claim is governed by Florida Statutes §400.0236. It allows you two years to file a lawsuit for financial compensation from the at-fault nursing home. If you fail to comply with the state’s statute of limitations, you could unintentionally put your right to compensation in jeopardy. If you miss the filing deadline, the negative and costly consequences could include:
- You might not be able to file your lawsuit at all
- If your lawsuit is successfully filed, it will likely be dismissed without being heard
- You will not be able to legally compel the at-fault nursing home to compensate you for their negligence
A Boca Raton malnutrition lawyer can familiarize you with other consequences of running out of time to file your lawsuit. If you are unsure of the statutory timeline and its effect on your right to financial compensation, contact the nursing home abuse team at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine by calling (800) 747-3733 today.
Potential Benefits and Advantages of a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
When you learn that your elderly loved one suffered from malnutrition in the nursing home you counted on to manage their daily needs, you could be entitled to seek compensation for their suffering and for the mental and emotional trauma your entire family endures. When our team represents you, we will aim to:
- Provide responsive legal care that keeps you updated on your claim
- Provide attentiveness, which means we respond to phone calls and emails in a timely fashion
- Build a solid case file that supports your right to financial recovery
Our client care team may be able to help you prove the cause of your loved one’s malnutrition by reading and reviewing their medical records, assigning liability with the at-fault nursing home, and fighting for the full financial recovery you are entitled to.
We go the extra mile for you so you can concentrate on your loved one, the restoration of their health, and their relocation to a safe nursing home. When you are ready to get the financial payout you deserve, contact our nursing home abuse team. Our team will let you focus on recovering your loved one’s health while we focus on everything else.
Get the Compensation Your Family Deserves
Healthy and nutritionally balanced meals and snacks should be provided to your loved one when they reside in a Boca Raton nursing home. If they do not receive an adequate food supply or a nutritionally adequate food supply, you could have the foundation of a nursing home abuse or neglect claim.
A Boca Raton malnutrition lawyer on our team may be able to help you fight for the financial compensation you are entitled to. We do not shy away from tough cases or stop fighting for your rights. Contact the client intake team at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine by calling (800) 747-3733 today.
We Can Help.
