One Third of Nursing Home Residents Suffer From Dehydration and Malnutrition

Written by Adam Peck Category: Elder Law January 26th, 2013 2 min read

At least a third of the 1.9 million nursing home residents in the United States may suffer from malnutrition or dehydration, conditions that can aggravate or cause more severe medical problems such as bed sores and decubitus ulcers, tooth decay, broken bones, anemia, and low blood pressure–or in some cases even death.

Despite federal laws–including the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987–that require nursing homes to meet residents’ nutrition needs, one study cited in the report found as many as 85 percent of the elderly living in some of the nation’s more than 20,000 nursing homes are malnourished. And in some nursing homes, from 30 to 50 percent are underweight. “The extent of malnutrition and dehydration in some American nursing homes is comparable to that found in many poor, developing countries where inadequate food intake is compounded by repeated infections,” says California Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney Steven Peck.

Undernourished residents suffer from any number of ailments that could easily be prevented if they were properly nourished. Unless action is taken, the incidence of malnutrition and dehydration is likely to become an even more serious problem as more Americans live longer.

Malnutrition and dehydration have a variety of causes. Inadequate staffing, a lack of individualized care, high nurse aide turnover, and other structural factors within the nursing home setting contribute to the problem. The understaffing situation at nursing homes is underscored by the fact that one certified nursing assistant (CNA) typically must help seven to nine residents eat and drink during the daytime, and as many as 12 to 15 during the evening meal. Ideally the ratio should be one CNA for every two or three residents who require eating assistance, Compounding the problem is the profession’s 93 percent yearly turnover rate, which leads to inconsistent care. Chronic conditions such as depression and cognitive impairment–and the side effects of treatments for these conditions–are also a major factor. Residents suffering from depression, for example, are more likely to experience weight loss, the study says. Another obstacle to good nutrition is that nursing home residents commonly have a limited choice in what they eat, with their cultural and ethnic food preferences frequently ignored. Poor dental health also contributes to inadequate nutritional intake.

Malnutrition, dehydration, and weight loss in nursing homes constitute one of the largest silent epidemics in this country says Elder Abuse Lawyer Steven Peck.

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Written by Adam Peck

Expertise: Personal Injury

Adam J. Peck, ESQ is a principal with Peck Law Group, APC. In 2008, Mr. Adam Peck received his Juris Doctorate from Whittier Law School where he graduated Cum Laude. His practice is primarily dedicated to representing Elders, Dependent Adults, along with their loved ones and family members, who have suffered horrific personal injuries.