Nursing Home Dehydration Attorney in New York City

The Dangers of Dehydration

Most of us have dealt with moderate dehydration at some point in our lives. In its early stages, the condition can cause:

• Lasting feelings of thirst
• Dry or pale skin
• Dry mouth
• Canker sores
• Infrequent need to urinate

At this stage, drinking plenty of fluids will cause symptoms to subside. However, in more serious cases of dehydration, people may experience:

• Irritability
• Low blood pressure
• Fast breathing
• Confusion, disorientation, delirium, and hallucinations
• Inability to act in logical or expected ways

Severe dehydration can and should result in a hospital trip for treatment.

Hypernatremia and Hyperkalemia

Dehydration isn’t just about your cells not having enough water. A lack of liquid also causes electrolyte imbalances that can be fatal if untreated.

Hypernatremia refers to high blood sodium caused by dehydration. The condition may develop quickly or over time, and the earlier it’s caught, the less likely it is to cause damage. Treatment includes rehydration, either by drinking water or, in serious cases, use of an IV drip. Symptoms to look out for include:

• Extreme thirst
• Lack of energy, tiredness
• Confusion
• Muscle twitches or spasms
• Seizures or coma

Unless a patient loses a large amount of fluid in a short period, the condition can be treated before the most severe and harmful symptoms begin to present.

Another condition caused by dehydration is hyperkalemia, or high potassium levels. Excessive amounts of this mineral can be toxic. Signs of hyperkalemia include:

• Muscular weakness
• Flaccid paralysis (floppy or limp limbs, cramps or loss of sensation in palms and soles of feet, loss of bladder control, trouble breathing)
• Intestinal muscle dysfunction (causes bloating and pain, vomiting, and loss of appetite)
• Chest pains and irregular heartbeat

Hyperkalemia should be addressed right away. In serious cases, emergency room doctors may need to stabilize a patient’s heart before filtering potassium out of the blood. If a patient’s potassium levels haven’t reached critical levels, removing potassium from the blood through dialysis or imbibing fluids to induce excretion may be the only necessary treatment.

Arguments of Fault in Nursing Home Dehydration

Some nursing home residents may intentionally fail to hydrate to avoid the embarrassment of incontinence, or because they need help using the restroom and often do not receive it in time. Other times, caregivers may refuse them water near bedtime for the same reason. Both of these instances demonstrate improper care on behalf of the facility: Patients deserve to retain their dignity regardless of their condition. Patients’ attempts to avoid the consequences of poor care does not absolve the facility of responsibility for dehydration or any other resulting health complications. It actually shows that residents are experiencing emotional damage along with the physical harms of dehydration and other conditions brought on by neglect.

Sometimes symptoms caused by dehydration are difficult to link directly to a lack of water, as they may be illnesses of their own. Medical experts can help build a strong case, but nursing homes that want to protect themselves will fight back by arguing that aging individuals, especially those who need regular care, get sick regardless of their fluid intake. Because of this, dehydration cases are not always the easiest to fight—especially if you don’t have an experienced team on your side.

Do You Need Advice on Issues of Nursing Home Abuse?

If you or a loved one has experienced medical complications that you suspect are linked to dehydration, you should reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible. Medical cases like these often require high levels of documentation and evidence, and the sooner you begin gathering that information, the sooner we can help you build a case. Facilities that accidentally or intentionally cause patients’ health to decline must be held accountable for what they have done.