Annual of social work, Vol. 28 No. 2, 2021.
Review article
https://doi.org/10.3935/ljsr.v28i2.360
Malnutrition and dehydration of users in nursing homes and the role of negligence
Silvija Rusac
orcid.org/0000-0002-6953-9624
; Department of Social Work, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Elderly dehydration and malnutrition are very common types of elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes. Malnutrition and dehydration of the elderly in nursing homes are two of the most common health problems faced by users. They are also a leading sign of neglect and inadequate care and are often the result of negligence. It is the responsibility of the home staff to provide their users with adequate food and fluid. Staff and administrators have a legal responsibility to take reasonable care of the safety and well-being of their users and others who come to the facility. Part of this is the duty to provide adequate food and water to the users to avoid malnutrition and dehydration. In most cases, proper nutrition and hydration involves developing a diet plan and schedule to meet the individual needs of each patient. This includes considering any physical or mental health issues a patient may have, as well as any nutritional needs of that patient. Failure to meet these needs can be considered negligence or transgression. The risk of developing these conditions is much higher in the elderly, as well as the serious side effects as a result. It is therefore crucial that the staff of the establishment is appropriately trained to predict whether the beneficiary is malnourished or dehydrated.
Keywords
the elderly; nursing homes; dehydration; malnutrition; neglect
Hrčak ID:
270834
URI
Publication date:
31.12.2021.
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