Nursing home residents suffering from diabetes face increased risk for a variety of health problems and complications, requiring additional caution and care. However, there are no specific guidelines for providing proper care for nursing home residents who suffer from diabetes. Therefore, each facility must carefully determine the unique needs of each resident and make sure each resident is successfully accommodated for.
As the Baby Boomer generation ages, nursing homes will have to deal with increased numbers of residents and increased numbers of residents suffering from type 2 diabetes. The 2004 National Nursing Home Survey revealed that 24.6% of nursing home residents had diabetes as a primary admission and/or current diagnosis, and one in four nursing home residents age 65 and older suffer from diabetes. Further, a study published by the American Diabetes Association Journal revealed that the care of elderly residents with type 1 insulin dependence and type 2 diabetes in extended care facilities failed to meet ADA standards of care.
While 98% have their blood glucose monitored, only 38% meet their short-term glucose goals. While many nursing homes seem capable of regularly monitoring blood sugar, they appear to lack resources or knowledge for dealing with the individual needs of diabetic residents. This is especially true when dealing with elderly residents who might not be able to communicate to staff about low blood glucose levels or other dangerous conditions.
A study conducted in a New York nursing home revealed that nursing home residents with diabetes are four times more likely to suffer from a dangerous fall than non-diabetic residents. This suggests that nursing home staff should consider diabetes as a risk factor for falls and take steps to reduce the risk for diabetic residents. Diabetes can cause complications including a drop in blood pressure upon standing (orthostatic hypotension) and visual impairments; yet, researchers found that neither of these complications explained the increased risk of falling. One potential explanation for the increased risk of falls is that diabetics can experience problems with the peripheral nerves in their feet (peripheral neuropathy), which can affect sensation and cause pain and numbness.
Peripheral neuropathy can cause further complications for diabetic residents because they may be less likely to feel when their feet have become injured or if they are developing pressure sores because of numbness. Therefore, it is important for nursing home staff to regularly check the feet of diabetic patients so that minor injuries can be treated before they become infected. This is especially important because diabetics tend to heal more slowly.
The slower healing rate of diabetic residents is also concerning for residents who are recovering from pressure sores, injuries, or surgery. Diabetic residents are more susceptible to infection because of the prolonged recovery period caused by diabetes. Therefore, nursing home staff must take extra precautions to check the injury or site that is healing to watch for infections or complications.
Berman & Riedel, LLP is a San Diego based law firm that is largely regarded as one of California’s leading advocates for the rights of victims of elder abuse. This is due to the firm’s success in securing some of the state’s largest settlements and awards against wrongful nursing homes and other types of elder care facilities. This success is attributable to the vast experience and knowledge that each of the firm’s elder abuse attorneys has in this complicated area of law.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the care that an elderly loved one is receiving in a nursing home or other type of elder care facility, call Berman & Riedel, LLP today at (858) 350-8855. Our staff will be more than happy to provide you and your family with an initial free consultation to discuss with you what rights you may have under California and federal law. To learn more about the firm’s elder abuse and neglect law practice, visit Berman & Riedel, LLP’s main website at www.preventelderabuse.com.
