Even when a nursing home is caring for your loved one, their safety could still be in danger. Seniors can experience not only neglect, but also physical abuse at the hands of caregivers and staff members of nursing homes.
One such area of neglect and abuse is choking in nursing homes. Choking does not only occur when nurses physically harm a patient. It can also happen when seniors eat meals. If nurses are not mindful and observant of their eating, and your loved one chokes as a result, they can be held accountable if a senior is injured in their care.
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we understand that nursing homes have the power to prevent some of these choking injuries. Patients with a known breathing condition must be watched carefully as they eat, and their food should be cut up into small portions or even served soft. Contact us today to set up a free, no-obligation consultation. Our Lyons choking lawyers have worked on a variety of nursing home abuse cases, and might be able to help your family seek justice.
The Risk of Choking in Nursing Homes
The risk of choking in nursing homes increases as facilities are more understaffed. This can impact a patient’s mealtime if there are no nurses available to watch over at-risk seniors. The more understaffed a nursing home is, the more likely seniors will experience negligence, such as malnutrition or even poor hygiene.
When someone struggles to swallow their food, it is known as dysphagia, according to Mayo Clinic. Older adults are more at risk of suffering from dysphagia. Nursing homes must understand that patients with this condition should avoid dry food, as their loss in muscle strength in their throat and mouth makes it hard for them to swallow. Some seniors might also require dentures, another obstacle to eating. If a senior has had a stroke before or after arriving at a nursing home, they should be monitored closely during mealtime. Nurses should also pay close attention to patients with dry mouth complications, as this can lead to choking.
A major risk of choking in nursing homes is death. If the senior is already battling other illnesses, it may be difficult to stop the choking with the Heimlich maneuver, especially if a nursing home is understaffed. Another risk involved with choking is brain damage when there is a lack of oxygen in the brain for around three or four minutes.
Nursing home physicians are responsible for examining new arrivals to understand their condition and to establish food guidelines. The nursing home should also determine if the patient has any dietary concerns to protect them from any potential choking or even allergic reactions.
When nursing home caregivers or staff members are too impatient, neglectful, or understaffed, to these conditions in patients, it can lead to serious health hazards. If you suspect neglect for your loved one while in the care of a nursing home, you might benefit from considering consulting a Lyons choking lawyer for help holding the facility accountable for their actions.
Getting a Lyons Choking Lawyer’s Help
According to a Desert Regional Medical Center study, choking was the fourth leading cause of death in America in 2015 when it came to unintentional deaths. It is an issue that affects us all, and safety precautions must be taken even more when caring for seniors, as the elderly are more at risk of choking. Nursing homes that fail to provide adequate care for their patients are at risk of causing injuries or even death.
These mishaps are avoidable, as nursing homes should be proactive in understanding the individual needs and medical treatment of each patient. If they do not, they could be negligent.
If your loved one is in the care of a nursing home and you suspect negligence, call Pintas & Mullins today. Our team of Illinois nursing home lawyers might be able to help you and your loved one to bring justice against the facility. While we fight for your justice, we will also help you pursue financial compensation.
For a free legal consultation with a Choking Lawyer serving Lyons, call (800) 794-0444
Recoverable Compensation
Aside from choking, seniors might also experience clogged breathing tubes while in the care of a nursing home. These respiratory devices help seniors breathe daily, and nurses should regularly check them to ensure they are functioning properly. When the devices get clogged, they can lead to choking and brain damage when there is a lack of oxygen flowing.
Nurses should constantly monitor patients that have a history of breathing troubles. If they do not care for a patient appropriately, and that patient chokes as a result, you might be able to pursue compensation. These awards can help with expenses you have endured as a result of the injury. Some include:
- Medical care costs
- Transportation expenses
- Pain and suffering
This is not an exhaustive list of compensation you might be entitled to, as every case is different.
Yet, there are many ways nursing homes can avoid choking in seniors. It starts by properly preparing their meals to ensure patients with pre-existing breathing conditions have small, bit-sized portions that allow for easy chewing and swallowing. Nursing homes must also constantly oversee their patients during mealtimes, so they can react quickly if a senior suddenly begins to choke.
Nursing homes must have a properly trained staff that is capable of watching after seniors that are at risk of choking. When nursing homes are understaffed or act negligently and leave seniors on their own at mealtime, they must be held accountable if their negligence led to choking.
Lyons Choking Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Pursue Justice with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm
If your loved one has suffered choking incidents while in a nursing home, there could be negligence behind their injury. Nursing homes that are understaffed do not have the proper supervision of your loved ones, and they adversely put seniors at risk of health hazards.
Our team of lawyers can help you hold the nursing home responsible for their negligence or physical harm to your loved ones. At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we fight for fair compensation while representing clients around the country. Call us today to begin your free case evaluation, and be one step closer to justice and compensation.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
