Open Accessibility Menu

Malnutrition and Dehydration

Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa and all of Arizona

Nursing homes have a legal obligation to maintain proper nutrition and hydration in their residents. This means that each resident should get adequate amounts of the calories, fluids, protein, vitamins, and minerals that he or she needs to maintain good health. While this can sometimes be a challenge, failure to do so can lead to serious injury, illness, and even death.

Malnutrition and dehydration lead to a weakened immune system, weak muscles, disorientation, and confusion, and can exacerbate bed sores. It can also make a resident more susceptible to infection. If you or a loved one resides in a nursing home and has suffered from malnutrition or dehydration, we strongly urge you to consult with an experienced nursing home abuse and neglect attorney as soon as possible.

Common Causes of Malnutrition and Dehydration in Nursing Homes

The following list contains some of the more common causes of malnutrition and dehydration specific to nursing home residents.

  • Placing food and water outside the reach of immobile patients defies common sense; however, we have received numerous calls from family members who report that nursing home employees are leaving the meal trays and water out of the reach of their loved ones. They report the food is then picked up an hour later and thrown away or sometimes eaten by the employee. Families have reported that when they asked the employee about leaving food out of reach of their loved one, the employee would report that they did not know the resident was unable to reach the food.
  • Drug side effects – Several medications cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and other side effects that can lead to dehydration and diminished appetite.
  • Drug and food interactions – Many kinds of drugs diminish the body’s ability to absorb nutrients, while not necessarily affecting appetite.
  • Illness and other health problems – Countless short and long-term illnesses can lead to dehydration and malnutrition.
  • Depression – A common symptom of depression is a loss of appetite. Many anti-depressant medications contribute to loss of appetite.

Competent, educated nursing home staff should know which residents are at risk for dehydration and malnutrition. They should also know how to make the necessary adjustments to ensure that each resident is properly fed and hydrated regardless of any of the aforementioned causes. Unfortunately, this is often not the case.

If you or a loved one reside in a nursing home in the Phoenix area and have suffered due to malnutrition or dehydration, please contact the experienced nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at Cullan & Cullan today to schedule a confidential consultation.

Families We've Helped

  • "We knew these would be lifelong issues for our son. You have to advocate for your kids because no one else will do it. Cullan & Cullan knew what was going on and we knew they would be successful in helping us."
  • "If your child is damaged or you think your child is damaged, you should seek a lawyer. Having a doctor-lawyer on my side really gave me hope."
  • "My child had permanent paralysis in her left arm and no one gave us a straight answer on how bad it actually was. We needed lawyers who understood the medical side of this case and hiring the Cullan brothers gave us the attention we needed."
  • "Joe and Pat came to meet me helped me fight my case. I was who they cared about and I felt so important with the Cullan brothers."

The doctor lawyer Difference

  • Over a Century of Combined Legal Experience
  • You’ll Get Honest & Aggressive Representation
  • Over a Quarter of a Billion Dollars Recovered
  • You Get Direct Access To Our Lawyers
  • You Don’t Pay Unless We Win

start with your
free consultation

Fill out the form below to see how we can help.
  • Please enter your name.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.