Some Nursing Homes Offer Special Food Options to Help Residents Avoid Dehydration and Malnutrition
Nursing home neglect is a major problem in New Jersey and throughout the United States. Lawsuits holding nursing homes accountable for their poor care of our elderly are becoming more common. Our experience tells us that malnutrition and dehydration, the nursing home not providing food or food with adequate nutrition and making sure the nursing home resident drinks enough fluids is a cause of serious injuries, including kidney failure and death.
It seems that that far too many nursing home residents in New Jersey suffer from dehydration and malnutrition, with a lot of residents not getting the daily caloric intake they need to maintain their health. When it comes to nutrition, many nursing home residents and their families believe they are not being offered the kind of sustenance they require. In fact, the quality of food provided by nursing homes is one of the biggest complaints that residents typically have, according to the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center.
Unfortunately, many nursing homes still treat residents more like hospital patients and offer limited meal options that lower the standard of living for elderly individuals. In our opinion, this must change, things must improve.
Currently, there are 1.4 million nursing home residents in approximately 15,600 nursing homes throughout the country. Most of these nursing home facilities do not provide specialized meal options, instead providing rigid menus with meals offered at specific times. Thanks to the efforts of nursing home resident advocates, however, at least some nursing homes are investing the resources needed to give elderly residents a variety of nutritional meal options every day.
Even the federal government is looking to get involved in this new trend by proposing regulations to require nursing homes to accommodate residents with specific meal needs based on their religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and preferences. Specifically, the proposed guidelines would give elderly residents “meaningful choices in diets that are nutritionally adequate and satisfying.” Although current federal regulations require that food offered to residents be “palatable,” the reality is that these regulations are rarely enforced, with many nursing home residents being asked to get by on overcooked meats and unripe fruits and vegetables.
For more information, view the Yahoo.com article, “Nursing Homes Starting to Offer More Individualized Menus.”
If you have any questions about your elderly loved one’s care at a New Jersey nursing home, you should speak with the experienced nursing home negligence and abuse attorneys at the Sugarman Law Firm. Barry Sugarman is an experienced nursing home neglect lawyer who will make sure that your loved one gets the care they need, want and deserve. Contact Mr. Sugarman today to schedule a free consultation.
