Nursing Home Choking Accidents
Times for meals can become fatal when nursing home facilities do not supervise properly or monitor the intake of food of the patients.
Many disabled and elderly individuals are challenged to swallow, and must be placed on restrictive diets to avoid choking on food.
When nursing homes fail to enforce restrictions in diet, or are not watchful of challenges in swallowing in patients susceptible, a risk arises in nursing home choking accidents, and even death.Conditions Which Contribute to Disorders in Swallowing
Disorders in swallowing are prevalent among disabled and elderly patients.
Fifty pairs of nerves and muscles are required to enable an individual to swallow. A number of conditions can have an effect on one’s ability to swallow.
Several disorders which can interfere with an ability to swallow are the following:
A number of neurological disorders can have an effect on swallowing, such as muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease.
Spinal and brain injuries, or strokes can have an effect on the ability of a person to swallow.
Alzheimer’s patients at a late stage can usually struggle to eat and swallow.
Certain kinds of cancers can result in issues of swallowing, as well as cancer treatment, like radiation.
General throat wear and tear on muscles can become a challenge over time for elderly individuals to swallow. The elderly are more likely also to sustain other ailments to hinder swallowing.
Nursing home choking accidents can occur when patients struggle to swallow. They should be generally examined by a doctor for the issue to be determined.
Then, the physician will make a recommendation on what kinds of food for the patient to consume, and in what food form.
On the chart of the nursing home patients, this information should be added for all caregivers to know their special needs.
The patient with a disorder in swallowing may be permitted medications or foods which the doctor restricted, or is not closely watched; thus, asphyxiation and choking may occur.
Choking can occur when medications or foods enter the windpipe instead of going into the esophagus; the air supply can be cut off.
When this occurs, a brief window of time occurs for medical staff at a nursing home to administer assistance before permanent damage occurs, if not death.
The nursing home has a duty to make certain that patients follow the outlined medical orders by the physician, and supervises patients properly with health issues.
So many nursing home choking accidents could be prevented easily if the medical orders for the patient were adhered to properly.
If a member of the family has asphyxiated or choked while under treatment in a nursing home, contact an attorney immediately.
Personal injury medical malpractice attorneys have nursing home experts to help you build a case if the facility is held liable for neglect to prevent choking or to attend the nursing home patient in need of care.