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The recent wave of sub-zero temperatures sweeping across the state has likely forced you to bundle up to brave the cold. You may even have invested in extra blankets and turned up the thermostat, thinking that keeping you and your family warm will be worth the extra expense.
But what about your loved one who is spending the winter in a care facility? Has the staff taken similar precautions to protect your relative’s heath?
It may seem incredible, but it’s entirely possible for a senior to suffer hypothermia in a Kentucky nursing home. Although it more commonly affects elderly people who live in poorly heated homes, hypothermia can result from prolonged exposure to any cold or damp conditions that cause the body’s core temperature to fall below 95 degrees.
Risks Associated With Nursing Home Hypothermia
Health Conditions
Hypothermia often begins with frostbite, a loss of feeling in the extremities such as the fingers, toes, ears or nose. Patients who are suffering from paralysis or nerve damage caused by diabetes may not notice any unusual sensations in their fingers and toes until more serious symptoms appear.
Immobility
Patients who are unable to move cannot gather extra blankets or relocate to a different part of the facility. This includes patients who are unresponsive, sleep for long periods, or whose medication regimen keeps them unconscious.
Psychiatric Problems
Wandering patients and those who suffer from delusions may leave the facility without noticing the cold, often failing to wear protective clothing or footwear before going outside.
Dependence
Patients may suffer frostbite after being left in parked buses waiting on a caretaker to drive them, or left by a cold window for too long because they needed help getting out of a chair.
Has Your Loved One Been Injured In A Nursing Home?
If you believe your loved one is being subjected to nursing home abuse you need to speak with an experienced Kentucky nursing home neglect attorney as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our office directly at 888.450.4456 to schedule a free consultation.