Arizona Disability Advocates for Malnutrition in Group Homes
One of the most basic and vital services a group home is required to provide to its residents is to ensure that they receive proper nutrition. Proper nutrition is, of course, a basic need of all people and many group home residents, due to either developmental or physical disabilities, may not be able to provide for this need themselves. Therefore, it is the job of the group home administration and staff to ensure that each resident’s individual dietary needs are being met everyday.
Physically disabled group home residents may be unable to physically feed themselves and require assistance from staff members. Developmentally disabled residents may not understand the need for proper nutrition and staff members will need to set dining schedules, provide meals, and ensure that the residents are eating. In addition, all group home residents may have certain dietary restrictions or nutritional requirements that need to be followed. Whatever the situation may be, if group home administrators and staff members are not following residents’ Individual Service Plans and ensuring that they receive proper nutrition, malnutrition may be the result.
If you have a loved one who resides in a group home in Phoenix, Glendale, Tempe, or elsewhere in Maricopa County and suspect that they are being malnourished, you should contact an Arizona group home abuse attorney to discuss your case. A experienced Arizona group home lawyer can not only help your loved one receive compensation for medical bills and pain and suffering resulting from the malnutrition, but they can help to expose neglectful group home practices and prevent similar treatment of other residents in the future.
Causes of Malnutrition
A group home resident’s malnutrition may be caused by a combination of physical and environmental factors. A resident may have physical conditions that cause malnutrition. These physical causes should be identified by the group home staff and a plan of action should be developed to account for them:
- Illness
- Food and drug interaction
- Side effects from drugs
- Depression
- Swallowing disorders
In addition to the physical causes, malnutrition may also be caused by environmental factors, such as:
- Understaffing
- Inadequate training
- Failure to follow special dietary requirements
- Improper staff supervision
Effects of Malnutrition
Malnutrition can cause a large assortment of physical problems, including:
- Pressure ulcers
- Lower immunity to viruses and bacteria
- Disorientation
- Weight loss
- Unhealthy skin
- Slower healing wounds
Identifying Malnutrition
It is important to frequently check to ensure that your loved one is eating properly in their group home. You should also check for signs of malnutrition. Among the most visible signs of malnutrition are noticeable weight loss and a change in skin color. Lack of energy and increased disorientation are also signs of malnutrition.
Contact an Arizona Group Home Abuse Lawyer
If your child or other loved one is a resident of a group home in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale or elsewhere in Maricopa County, and you believe that they are being malnourished, the group home administration may be guilty of negligence. It is best to consult with an Arizona group home abuse lawyer to discuss your case. For more information, please visit http://www.grouphomeabuselawyer.com/
