Nursing Home Aspiration Pneumonia Attorneys: Chicago, Illinois
Aspiration pneumonia is a condition that is unfortunately common among elderly residents. It attacks vulnerable residents whose immune systems are already weakened. This type of pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death among nursing home patients. The routine day-to-day care of an elderly resident or lack thereof by staff members can be a risk factor for this disease.
The medical care that seniors receive at their nursing homes when they have aspiration pneumonia can also be a determinant of whether they are able to survive the illness. However, many nursing homes either fail to spot the warning signs that would enable their physicians to give prompt treatment or simply do not give adequate medical care to residents.
If your family member suffered serious medical complications or death related to aspiration pneumonia during admission to nursing, you may have grounds to pursue a negligence case against the facility. The nursing home abuse attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC in Chicago, Illinois have experience prosecuting nursing home abuse claims and are ready to assist you with your situation.
How Aspiration Pneumonia Develops in Elderly Individuals
Aspiration pneumonia is an illness that does not necessarily result from natural causes. Instead, it is an infection that is caused by the fact that the patient aspirates something into their lungs. Generally, this is either food, liquid or vomit. They may be having trouble eating or drinking and the byproducts end up in their lungs. In other words, the sickness results from foreign material entering their lungs which may be preventable.Risk Factors Contributing to the Development in Long-Term Care Facilities
- Use of a tube feeding
- Missing teeth or poor oral hygiene
- The weakness of the muscles needed for swallowing
- An already weakened immune system
How to Prevent Aspiration Pneumonia in Skilled Nursing Facilities
Oftentimes, aspiration pneumonia can be prevented by giving the resident the proper dietary case and supervision. Ensuring that the resident sits up while eating lowers some of the risks. Giving the resident the right type of food can also help. For example, if the resident is not able to properly chew the food, the nursing staff should give them soft foods that can be easily swallowed. However, many of the lower performing nursing homes do not closely scrutinize their residents' diet and food intake even though federal regulations require it.Nonetheless, there are warning signs of aspiration pneumonia that the staff should be able to spot. The normal daily healthcare and examinations may often be enough to alert the staff that something is wrong with the resident and that there is a need for further testing. For example, fever, cough, and trouble swallowing are a few of the symptoms of aspiration pneumonia. If these persist for several days, it is a possible sign of the condition.
However, not all nursing homes give the proper medical care that could result in finding the condition. They may mistake the symptoms with those of another condition or they may not even find them at all. This is another way in which substandard care can endanger the life of the resident as a prompt diagnosis is key if your loved one is to survive this serious illness. At a minimum, aspiration pneumonia will likely result in a long hospital stay and the need for long-term treatment.
Medical Treatment for Aspiration Pneumonia
The Nursing Care Facility May Be at Fault for Your Loved One's Aspiration Pneumonia Related Illness
In many cases, aspiration pneumonia is a sign of nursing home negligence. It can be one of the deadliest results of the neglect that is pervasive at many nursing homes. As you can see above, there are many aspects of poor-quality care that can cause a resident to develop this condition. Bedridden residents often do not receive the amount of daily help and supervision that could keep them from contracting aspiration pneumonia. If your loved one has been sickened or even died from aspiration pneumonia, you should investigate the circumstances of their care at the nursing home.While some cases of aspiration pneumonia are unavoidable, many others result from nursing home abuse, as neglect is considered a form of abuse. When a resident dies from a preventable condition, you may have a wrongful death case against the nursing home. This can result in a wrongful death lawsuit since the loss of your loved one could have been prevented. If your loved one has developed aspiration pneumonia while residing in a nursing home, contact the Chicago, Illinois nursing home neglect attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC to learn more about your legal options.