Larger patients means larger equipment is needed for proper care.

The problem of obesity creates a large number of additional health concerns for healthcare providers in a nursing home setting. Although the population of obese elderly patients has been growing steadily, until the last five years there has not been extensive research done on the obesity epidemic in these community-dwelling populations. Elderly patients with a healthy weight often present with a myriad of health issues, but these are exacerbated by increased weight gain. Rotkoff states, Not only are medical treatment regimens complex, but obese residents are also at a high risks for problems including lower extremity cellulitis, impaired hygiene, skin breakdown, continence and containment problems, impaired function, increased dependency, and poor quality of life (as cited by Bradway, Diresta, Fleshner, Polomano, 2008, p. 1531). The lack of focus and long term research on the topic of community dwelling populations has led to ethics issues within nursing homes. Many experts fear that elderly obese people may not be receiving proper care due to lack of funding, facilities that are not properly staffed or trained to deal with the needs of the clients, and also lack of proper equipment to help with proper lifting of patients. The lack of equipment not only puts the client at risk of injury, but it also puts the staff of the nursing home at greater risk of work related injuries due to turning and lifting patients. If a staff member has these concerns it is possible that they might be withhold basic care that is necessary for better health. Another health concern for the patients is whether or not they are receiving proper nutrition at the hands of the facility that promotes a healthy weight.