Nursing home residents count on the facility to provide them with their meals. It is imperative that nursing home staff members take the time to evaluate residents for malnutrition on a regular basis. This isn’t always easy, but it can save the residents from suffering harm that malnutrition can cause. It can also save the facility from facing legal action based on neglect.
There are many ways that nursing homes can evaluate residents for malnutrition. One of these is keeping track of which residents eat. Taking a roster at mealtimes or paying attention to who is having food delivered to them can provide a key look into how often each person is eating.
Another thing that can happen is that staff members can pay attention to how the residents look. If they notice a resident who is losing weight quickly, malnutrition might be a possibility. The same is true if the resident is getting sick often or isn’t going to the restroom regularly.
Nursing home residents sometimes face challenges with eating. They might not enjoy the facility’s food choices or they may have to follow a diet they don’t like. They might have medications that change the way foods taste so they can’t find things they want to eat. Some might not have an appetite or may not have the energy to eat.
If you think that your loved one is being malnourished at a nursing home, now is the time to take steps to correct the problem. There is a chance that serious medical issues might occur if the malnutrition continues on.
