Chicago Choking Negligence Lawyer – Clogged Breathing Tubes In Nursing Homes

Some of the most devastating injuries for the elderly result from choking or a lack of oxygen.

Unfortunately, choking incidents and clogged breathing tubes are two common occurrences frequently seen in nursing homes. These incidents are not always purely accidental – often, they are the result of nursing home negligence for which a facility can be held liable.

If your senior loved one has suffered from a choking incident in a nursing home, and you believe that it happened because the staff was careless or inattentive, you may be able to pursue a case. Your loved one and your family may have the right to be compensated for the injury. In Illinois, talk to us at Willens & Baez to learn about your legal options and to get the legal service you deserve.

Duty Of A Facility To Prevent Choking And Clogged Breathing Tubes

When you entrust a family member to a nursing home, you expect that the facility will provide appropriate care for your loved one’s advanced age and health condition. Indeed, this is a legal duty of nursing homes. Part of this obligation is to prevent choking and breathing problems among their elderly residents, especially because seniors have higher risk of experiencing these conditions.

Elderly choking is something that caregivers must anticipate because older persons have reduced swallowing abilities. Swallowing difficulty is medically called dysphagia, and it is found to affect as many as 60 percent of residents in US nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Meanwhile, many nursing home residents face the risk of endotracheal intubation problems. Intubation is the insertion of a breathing tube into the body via the trachea (windpipe), and this is required by patients for various reasons. It keeps the airway open during and after surgery, it aides the breathing of patients with pneumonia or a collapsed lung, and it supports breathing during the treatment of illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Since choking and breathing tube problems are foreseeable incidents in a nursing home, caregiving staff are expected to take preventative measures such as:

Devastating Results Of Choking And Clogged Breathing Tubes

When a nursing home fulfils its obligation to its residents, choking and clogged breathing tubes are preventable. Sadly, we have seen too many cases of elder care facilities being negligent in their duties, leading to serious injuries and even death. These are some examples:

A host of other complications may occur from oxygen deprivation or the presence of unclean tubes in the body. Some patients, for instance, suffer from related hypertension, spinal injuries, and speaking difficulties. Emotional or psychological problems are also not uncommon, especially for patients who have sustained life-altering injuries.

Low Quality Of Care In Illinois

With the health risks that they face, our elderly deserve the best quality of attention from caregivers. But in Illinois, elder care is has dipped to worrying levels.

Just recently, the state has been found to be one of the worst in the country when it comes to nursing home care. Its nursing homes collectively ranked 42nd out of all US states when they were surveyed on health inspection deficiency findings, staffing, and performance quality.

Understaffing is a particular issue among our elder care facilities. A 2018 study found that some 280 facilities in Illinois have low staff levels. This issue cascades to more problems: a nursing home with a low staff-to-resident ratio cannot supervise its residents properly, and caregivers employed there will be overworked and more prone to making mistakes.

Related: Chicago Bedsores Negligence Attorney

Apart from short-staffing, there are other unscrupulous shortcuts that nursing homes are known to employ. These include hiring unqualified staff, cutting their budget on equipment and provisions, and taking on more residents than they can reasonably accommodate.

It’s no wonder why the Illinois Department of Public Health receives 19,000 calls on their Nursing Home Hotline every year.

Seniors and their families must not be afraid to stand up to a nursing home with unacceptable practices. Our legal system is intended to protect the elderly from being harmed in these facilities, and families can make the law work for them by finding justice for their loved one.

Willens Law Fights For The Elderly And Their Families

It is true that long-term care facilities are usually well-prepared to defend themselves against negligence cases. This is why if your loved one was injured in a nursing home, you should not go it alone – enlist a lawyer who is proven successful in fighting for the elderly.

Willens & Baez is prepared and fully able to provide effective legal service to you. We have helped Illinois families win in nursing home cases, including:

Our aggressive legal approach at Willens & Baez allows us to face powerful companies and organizations. But when it comes to dealing with our clients, our entire team makes it a point to be compassionate and professional to help ease their stress.

Willens & Baez serves Chicago and surrounding communities. Nursing homes here include:

Your initial consultation with Willens & Baez is absolutely free and confidential. Please talk to us about your elder loved one’s nursing home injury. Call Willens & Baez at (888) 445-1446 today.