Choking Injuries

Residents in long-term care facilities have the right to live with dignity, safety, and proper supervision. Choking is a preventable tragedy that often occurs when staff fail to follow dietary restrictions, assist residents with feeding, or monitor those with swallowing difficulties.

At Lowe Trial Lawyers, our nursing home choking attorneys understand the heartbreak and outrage families feel when a loved one is harmed due to neglect. We take these cases seriously—investigating how and why the incident occurred and holding facilities accountable for the harm their failures have caused.

Your family member deserves a life free from preventable injury. When that right is violated, you have the right to take action. We’re here to stand with you, fight for justice, and help ensure that no other family experiences the same pain.

Choking incidents in nursing homes are rarely “accidents.” They are often the result of negligence, understaffing, or failure to follow medical guidelines. Some of the most common contributing factors include:

• Failure to follow dietary orders, such as providing regular-texture food to residents on a soft or puréed diet
• Inadequate supervision during meals, especially for residents with known swallowing difficulties or cognitive impairments
• Lack of proper staff training on how to assist residents while eating and how to recognize the signs of choking or aspiration
• Missed or ignored speech-language pathology evaluations, which are essential in diagnosing and managing swallowing disorders (dysphagia)
• Feeding too quickly or leaving residents unsupervised with food
• Failing to properly seat residents in upright positions during meals
  
  

While any resident can experience choking, the risk is highest among:

• Individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
• Residents with neuromuscular disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease or stroke survivors
• Those with dysphagia (swallowing difficulties)
• Residents who are nonverbal or unable to communicate distress
• Individuals on special diets or with known chewing/swallowing issues
  
  

If your loved one experienced a choking episode in a nursing home, especially one resulting in serious injury or death, contact Lowe Trial Lawyers today. We’re here to uncover the truth, fight for justice, and help prevent it from happening to someone else.