Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death in nursing home residents. Many instances of nursing home acquired pneumonia could have been prevented or treated, had the nursing home acted properly. If a nursing home fails to timely treat pneumonia in a resident and that resident dies, that may be a form of nursing home negligence.
Free Nursing Home Pneumonia Wrongful Death Lawsuit Case Evaluation
If your loved one died from pneumonia acquired in a nursing home or long term care facility, contact Senior Justice Law Firm now for a free case consultation. Our nursing home attorneys have handled hundreds of wrongful death cases involving pneumonia.
Free Nursing Home Pneumonia Case Consultation: 888-375-9998
Common Pneumonia Forms Causing Death in Nursing Home Residents
There are different forms of pneumonia (viral, bacterial, fungal) that are common in long term care settings. Pneumonia is an infection in the lung caused by infectious agents, such as virus, bacteria or fungus. Pneumonia is the 8th most frequent cause of death in older Americans. It is estimated that there are approximately 1 million cases of facility acquired pneumonia in US nursing homes. Shockingly, 22% of nursing home residents that are hospitalized for pneumonia die from their compromised breathing and respiration.
It is for this reason that,
- A nursing home must do all in its power to prevent pneumonia from developing in its residents, and;
- When a resident exhibits signs of pneumonia, it is crucial that the nursing home act fast to treat the pneumonia before it becomes too late.
Aspiration Pneumonia and the Inhalation of Food, Spit, Vomit or Water
Aspiration pneumonia is a special form of pneumonia that occurs in nursing home residents after an elderly person inhales food, vomit or liquid into their lungs. This kind of pneumonia is common, yet often preventable, in the nursing home setting. If your loved one specifically died from this kind of pneumonia, click here to learn more about aspiration pneumonia cases.
So How Should a Nursing Home Prevent Pneumonia in At Risk Patients?
Good hygiene, and quickly reacting to early signs of pneumonia before it is too late. A doctor should be consulted upon suspicion of pneumonia. Thereafter, the nursing home and/or its doctor should order the appropriate course of treatment to treat the nursing home acquired pneumonia.
Nursing Home Pneumonia Signs
Pneumonia presents with signs of coughing, discolored mucus, trouble breathing, wheezing, overall weakness and possibly fever. Nursing home residents with pneumonia often present with other non-respiratory related issues, like confusion, lethargy, and falls. If an elderly nursing home resident is having trouble breathing or sounds like their lungs are congested, pneumonia must be on the differential diagnosis list.
Nursing Home Pneumonia Examination and Testing
If a nursing home nurse suspects a patient might have pneumonia, he or she should perform simple tests to rule out the pneumonia. A diagnosis for pneumonia can be confirmed by a physician listening to a patient’s lungs, a simple pulse ox test which measures blood oxygen levels in the patient’s chest, or a chest x-ray.
Once pneumonia is confirmed, a blood or phlegm sample can determine what specifically is causing the pneumonia and order specific treatment methods from there.
These testing methods for nursing home acquired pneumonia are accessible, quick and relatively inexpensive.
Nursing Home Pneumonia Treatment
Once an elderly patient is confirmed to suffer from pneumonia, the appropriate treatment plan must be implemented timely.
If the resident suffers from bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics will be ordered.
If the pneumonia is viral, close observation, rest and fluids will likely be ordered. Most viral pneumonia cases heal on their own; however, the observation period may be performed in a hospital setting.
Nursing Home Pneumonia Wrongful Death
Delaying in treating or diagnosing a case of nursing home pneumonia will lead to wrongful death. Commonly, the death certificate will list pneumonia, sepsis or septic shock as the cause of death.
Your Legal Rights in Filing a Wrongful Death Pneumonia Lawsuit Against the Nursing Home
If you feel that your loved one’s pneumonia related death was due to the nursing home failing to take action, you may have a viable nursing home negligence lawsuit. At Senior Justice Law Firm, our attorneys focus on cases against negligent nursing homes and long term care facilities. Let our compassionate and narrowly focused firm help you in the wake of a preventable pneumonia wrongful death.
Our legal team can gather medical records, retain expert witnesses and investigate whether the nursing home reacted appropriately to the signs and symptoms of your family member’s infection. Best of all, our lawyers work on a contingency fee arrangement, which means we only get paid if you make a recovery on your case. There are no up front fees or costs.
Call us today for a completely free, no obligation nursing home pneumonia wrongful death case consultation — 1-888-375-9998
Elder abuse attorneys representing victims of pneumonia and illness inside long term care facilities
