Weight Loss

In most cases, nursing homes provide necessary care to people who cannot care for themselves. The family members of an ailing individual will typically turn to a nursing home to seek assistance in providing adequate care and nutrition to the individual. Sadly, for a variety of reasons, nursing homes do not always meet their obligations, and the very people whom a nursing home is meant to protect suffer harm as a result. Unintended weight loss is a common sign that your loved one is receiving insufficient care due to a nursing home’s negligence. If your loved one lost weight following his or her admission to a nursing home, you should speak with a Cape Cod nursing home negligence lawyer who is experienced in handling these cases to discuss whether your family member or you may be able to recover compensation.

Collectively, the attorneys at the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, have more than 150 years of experience assisting Cape Cod residents in the pursuit of claims against negligent parties. We will work aggressively on your behalf to help you seek the full extent of compensation that you may be owed for the harm caused by nursing home negligence. Our proficient attorneys have obtained several multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts for our clients.

One of the main facets of nursing home care is ensuring that a resident receives adequate nutrition. In addition to providing nutritious food, nursing homes should monitor a resident’s intake to make sure that he or she is consuming an appropriate amount of calories on a daily basis. If a person is not provided with enough food or does not eat a sufficient amount, he or she may lose weight unexpectedly. Unexpected weight loss can lead to other complications, such as weakness, fatigue, and confusion. It may also exacerbate pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.

In addition to potentially causing health problems, the unintended weight loss of a nursing home resident is often a sign of negligent care in general. The nursing home may not have sufficient staff to appropriately care for all of its residents, and the care provided may not be adequate as a result. In some cases, a nursing home may be fully staffed, but the employees may not be properly trained, or there may not be proper procedures in place to ensure that employees are appropriately monitoring a resident’s food intake. If your loved one lost weight unexpectedly and suffered harm as a result, you may be able to recover the cost of any additional medical treatment needed and damages for their pain and suffering.

Nursing homes are required by state and federal law to provide adequate care for residents. Adequate care includes ensuring that a resident receives sufficient nourishment. In instances in which a nursing home resident suffers from weight loss unintentionally, this can be evidence that the resident is not being provided with appropriate care. If unintended weight loss causes a nursing home resident to experience pain and suffering or any other additional harm, the resident or his or her family may be able to pursue a claim against the nursing home. Claims against nursing homes typically allege that the nursing home negligently provided inadequate care, resulting in the resident’s harm. To prove a negligence claim under Massachusetts law, your attorney must show that the nursing home was held to a certain standard of care, which it breached by providing inadequate care, and that the breach caused the resident’s harm.

Discovery is an essential part of claims against nursing homes. The nursing home’s records should recount which food was provided to the resident and the amount of food consumed by the resident on a daily basis. The records are often the best evidence in establishing a pattern of negligent and inattentive care. In many cases, it will be necessary to hire a medical expert as well to offer an opinion as to how the deviation from the standard of care caused your loved one’s harm.

Entrusting the care of a loved one to someone else is never easy, and when the trusted entity fails to provide adequate care, it can be devastating. At the Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, our nursing home negligence lawyers have a record of successful outcomes in cases against nursing homes on Cape Cod and elsewhere. We are mindful of the sensitive nature of nursing home claims and will work diligently to help you seek a favorable outcome. Our skilled advocacy has allowed us to maintain a history of successful verdicts. Contact us at 888-262-6664 or through our online form to schedule a meeting.