Elder Law

Nursing Home Fined After Negligence Results in Resident Death

By Levin & Perconti

An elderly nursing home resident died last year after choking on his lunch at a nursing home. He suffocated to death when the nursing home neglected to accommodate his dietary needs by changing his meal plan. Prior to the accident, a nursing home dietitian alerted other staff to his risk of choking because he was having a hard time chewing and swallowing thin liquid. Rather than taking steps to immediately address this risk, the nursing home was negligent and did not change his meal plan or supervise him while eating.

On the day of his death, the nursing home resident was given a meal of beef, vegetables and potatoes. He choked on this food and it became stuck in his trachea. Staff attempted the Heimlich maneuver on him but could not resuscitate him. As a result of the nursing home?s failure to address his dietary needs, he died. The nursing home was fined $90,000 by the state.

Read full coverage of this nursing home negligence by following the link.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on March 13, 2009 (boomark / email).