How Does Nursing Home Negligence Cause Choking in Tampa?
There are many different types of negligence that can put nursing home residents at risk of choking hazards. Cognitive impairments, medical issues such as dysphagia, and reduced saliva production are just some of these. Muscle disorders, issues with dentures, and improper supervision also pose serious choking risks.
Nursing home administrators have a duty to ensure they fully understand a resident’s needs before admittance and staff members have a duty to ensure patients are safe at all times. Below, our Tampa nursing home neglect attorney further explains how negligence causes choking in long-term care facilities.
Failure to Follow Care Plans
A care plan should be created for all nursing home residents when they are admitted to a facility. It is just as important that these care plans are carefully followed by all staff members. When care plans are ignored, the consequences can be severe. For example, a patient may require pureed food but is served a solid meal instead, which creates a choking risk. These oversights in nursing homes are often indicative of systemic negligence.
Insufficient Supervision at Mealtime
Choking in nursing homes often occurs because residents are not properly supervised at mealtime. Elderly individuals with dentures or medical conditions may not be able to properly chew or swallow. Without proper supervision, fairly small challenges can turn into a life-threatening emergency. Making sure there are sufficient staff-to-resident ratios during meals is critical to prevent these incidents.
Inadequate Staff-to-Resident Ratios
Understaffed nursing homes leave residents open to risks in a number of ways, including improper supervision during mealtime. When staff feel overworked, they may not properly monitor residents or they might neglect feeding plans. All of these, and other issues, can result in choking incidents.
Dysphagia
Dysphagia is the medical term for ‘difficulty swallowing’ and it affects approximately 25 to 70 percent of nursing home residents. Dysphagia makes it difficult for food and liquids to travel to the stomach from the mouth, which increases the risk of a resident’s airway becoming obstructed. The condition often stems from underlying health conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, strokes, and frailty. Dysphagia can become a life-threatening matter when residents do not have proper care.
Neurological Disorders
Neurological disorders such as strokes, dementia, and Alzheimer’s can all impact swallowing ability. These conditions diminish muscle and brain function, which makes it more difficult for residents to safely chew and swallow. These conditions showcase the importance of customized care plans to prevent choking.
Our Nursing Home Neglect Attorney in Tampa Can Protect Your Loved One’s Rights
If your loved one suffered harm due to a choking incident in a nursing home, you need legal advice. At Kohn Law, our Tampa nursing home neglect attorney can provide it, ensure your loved one’s rights are upheld, and hold the facility accountable for paying the full settlement you and your family are entitled to. Call us now at 813-428-8504 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our experienced attorney and to learn more about how we can help.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0400/0400.html
