Choking In A Nursing Home

Choking in a nursing home setting can be caused by factors other than simply not swallowing food correctly.  In many instances, the direct cause of choking may be that the nursing home failed to give the resident the proper type of food based upon the resident’s medical condition.

Was the Type of Food Proper?

Nursing home residents often suffer from a variety of medical conditions that may impair their ability to eat certain types of foods.  In some cases, medical conditions may affect their ability to swallow certain types of foods (usually those that require more activity in chewing food).  In other cases, the resident may be suffering from a cognitive function, such as Alzheimer’s, that can affect the mental function needed to swallow food without choking.

In nursing home facilities, it is up to the staff to understand the medical conditions and needs of each resident and to ensure that the right type of food is delivered to each resident based upon any medical limitations that may exist.  At meal time, the nursing home must also help any residents with eating who may require assistance.

When Choking Occurs in a Nursing Home, We Find Out Why

With nurses on staff at our firm, we can carefully assess the medical needs of a resident concerning the types of foods that they should be given (or not given), and determine the level of assistance that the resident may need in eating.  Once this information and the other facts and circumstances concerning the choking are known, we can then advise as to whether a case of negligence exists against that nursing home for the choking.

If a loved one has died or otherwise suffered from a choking incident at a nursing home, please call us so that we can learn about the case. We will be happy to meet with you for a free, no-obligation consultation at your convenience.

If we accept your case, we will do so on a contingency fee basis.  This means that you will not owe us any fees unless and until we recover a settlement or judgment.