Aspiration and Choking Deaths in Florida Nursing Homes

We take it for granted, but eating and swallowing food is a big deal for our health. How we swallow matters and for elderly Florida nursing home residents, it can be a life or death manner. If a nursing home resident is neglected or given the wrong kind of food, it can result in an aspiration choking wrongful death lawsuit. 

Swallowing and Aspiration - How it Works

Normal Swallowing Function

When we chew our food and swallow it, the food matter gets liquified and is moved down the throat. This is referred to as the pharyngeal phase. During this process, the larynx automatically closes and your lungs temporarily stop breathing. This automatic reaction is a natural failsafe that prevents food and liquid from infiltrating the lungs and the trachea. 

Aspiration

The aspiration process is a failure of the above eating/swallowing process. Aspiration begins when bacteria enters the lungs due to a failure of the swallowing mechanism. This can have grave health consequences, including aspirational pneumonia and death. Treatment of aspirational pneumonia includes antibiotics and breathing machine assistance. If the aspiration is not caught soon enough, it can lead to a patient aspirating and dying.

Nursing Home Aspiration Death Lawsuit

If your loved one wrongfully died as a result of a nursing home aspiration, speak with a Florida nursing home neglect lawyer today to learn about your legal rights. Call us at 561-316-7207 to get a free case consultation today. 

Aspiration death cases against nursing homes can be valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars due to the preventable manner of the wrongful death.

Palm Beach County Nursing Home Watchlist from AHCA

Does your Palm Beach nursing home make the AHCA watchlist for continually cited nursing homes in the area? 

About the AHCA Nursing Home Watch List

Each year, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) puts together a 'nursing home watch list' for Florida nursing homes who have been cited for deficiencies. Analyzing the AHCA watch list is one way of families doing their homework to determine the safest place to put their loved ones.

AHCA provides inspection ratings on all Palm Beach nursing home facilities.

What Should I Do If I Suspect Elder Abuse in a Palm Beach Nursing Home or ALF?

If you suspect your family member is begin neglected or abused in a Florida facility, take action by initiating an elder abuse case. Speak with one of our qualified Palm Beach nursing home attorneys today to learn more about your potential claim. 

For a link to the AHCA Nursing Home Watch List, click here.