As people age, they have difficulty completing tasks that were once easy. For example, many nursing home residents have trouble chewing and swallowing. This is often due to a medical condition called dysphagia that results in trouble swallowing because the esophageal muscles no longer work properly. Nursing home staff can prevent choking incidents by exercising extra care and precaution. However, neglect does occur and choking incidents happen. While this neglect is inexcusable, a swift response can usually save a nursing home resident that is choking. Unfortunately, this response often never comes and tragic consequences result.
Preventing nursing home residents from choking should not be a difficult task for staff. In most cases, it involves identifying residents with difficulty swallowing food and making the necessary changes to their routine at meals. This may include serving food in a manner that is easier to swallow or using a feeding tube. But most often, choking prevention just requires supervising residents while they eat.
When a nursing home resident does choke, nursing home staff must take swift and immediate action. Most of the time, permanent damage can be prevented with proper procedure including calling 911, performing the Heimlich maneuver and taking other necessary actions to open the airway. Speed is critically important. Each second the airway is blocked the brain is deprived of oxygen which can result in brain damage and death.
If your loved one has suffered injury or died as the result of choking, we encourage you to contact our nursing home negligence and abuse law firm.
Nursing home abuse and negligence claims involve many complex legal and medical issues. Having the right attorney is essential to recovering what you deserve. Our Midwest nursing home abuse law firm will do everything possible to assist you in obtaining the maximum compensation you deserve. More importantly, our firm will serve as an ally that will give you and your family the respect and compassion it needs. Contact us to protect your family.
