Kidney Failure in Pennsylvania Nursing Homes
Nursing home neglect attorney who protects Pittsburgh families
Residents in nursing homes can suffer from life-threatening conditions like kidney failure. Kidney failure in these facilities is often a clear sign of nursing home neglect. This is a severe health concern that significantly impacts your loved one’s quality of life, leading to ongoing pain and suffering if neglect continues.
Your loved one deserves to be cared for and respected in nursing homes, but that is not always what happens. At Hal Waldman & Associates, we work hard to protect nursing home residents so neglect doesn’t go unnoticed and unaddressed. Our experienced nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys fight to protect your loved one from neglect and hold facilities accountable.
Understanding kidney failure
The kidneys are vital organs that filter waste and excess blood fluids through urine. They also play a role in proper hydration, ensuring the body gets enough fluids. When a resident experiences kidney failure, toxins are not being filtered but instead are building up, which can result in problems with:
- Fluid retention
- High blood pressure
- Anemia
- Bone problems
If left untreated, kidney failure can become life-threatening. Residents with kidney failure will slowly have their health deteriorate and will need extensive medical care to recover.
How nursing home neglect results in kidney failure
Entrusting a nursing home to care for your loved one is never an easy decision, especially if they already have medical conditions that require extra care. These residents may have a higher risk of kidney failure than residents in healthier conditions, but kidney failure can happen to any resident when the facility neglects their care.
Sepsis and untreated infections
Sepsis is a severe condition that happens when the body’s response to an infection is irregular and extreme. When the body tries to fight off the infection, it can cause inflammation, leading to issues like blood clots. These clots disrupt blood flow and prevent the kidneys from getting the nutrients they need to function, leading to permanent damage.
Because sepsis is a complication of an untreated infection, it is a telltale sign of nursing home neglect. Nursing homes have a responsibility both to prevent infections and to properly treat infections if they do occur.
Dehydration
Neglect can lead to dehydration, a condition where the body lacks the necessary fluids to function. When a resident becomes dehydrated, their kidneys have to work harder to function. This constant strain over time causes kidney damage and, in the long run, kidney failure.
Medication errors
The kidneys can be damaged when the wrong medications or dosages are administered. These medication errors are often a result of nursing home neglect. Overmedicating or mixing drugs can interfere with kidney functions, leading to kidney failure.
Diabetes
It’s not uncommon for nursing home residents to have diabetes. When staff neglects to properly manage diabetes, including medication administration and monitoring blood sugar levels, symptoms can worsen. High blood sugar levels can damage the kidneys over time, increasing the risk of kidney failure.
Recognizing the signs of kidney failure
In the early stages of kidney failure, sometimes symptoms are not as apparent as they are once kidney damage progresses to the end stages. Some common signs of kidney failure to watch out for in nursing home residents include:
- Swollen feet and ankles
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Dry and itchy skin
- Irregular urination patterns
- Puffy eyes
- Loss of appetite
Kidney failure can cause your loved one to potentially lose their life, all from the negligence of a nursing home. No one deserves to go through such health conditions, especially when they are preventable. That’s why you need a nursing home neglect attorney to ensure these facilities are liable. Contact Hal Waldman & Associates for a free consultation to learn more.
