Florida Nursing Home Lawyer Blog
People who suffer from obesity grapple with a range of health problems, from diabetes to congestive heart failure.
The number of ailments facing obese adults increase as they age. This has resulted in serious problems at nursing homes throughout the country, where Medicare often refuses to pay more for the specialized care needed for adequate care of obese patients. Kaiser Health News reports this has caused some nursing homes to routinely turn down hospital referrals for overweight patients, but there are concerns this practice violates federal anti-discrimination laws.
A number of hospitals have stepped in to help ease the transition by offering donations of specialized lifts, mattresses and beds. While there is much focus on society-at-large to get fit and lose weight, doctors say there is a segment of the population for which this is not realistic or even advisable. That does not mean they forfeit their right to adequate care. Continue reading →