Medication Usage in Nursing Homes
Medication is an important part of the daily lives of many residents in Nursing Homes and frequent misuse of prescription drugs can have harmful effects on an individual. Medication is important to maintain a long life, as prescription drugs improve the quality of life and length for most people 65 and up living in nursing homes. However, not all nursing homes are advanced in their methods of dispensing prescription drugs, and the possibility of one resident getting someone else's medication is likely. In addition to dispensing wrong medication, the misuse of anti-anxiety, antipsychotics and anti-depressants in nursing homes is an ongoing problem. The overuse of these medications can lead to severe medical consequences, including death.
Every nursing home resident has rights. The Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 is a federal law establishing that when entering a nursing home, a plan for the individual should be made and if altered, it should be done with close monitoring. Too many times medications are increased or added to a resident's medical plan, which is dangerous. An Arizona Nursing Home Advocate Attorney can assist in your legal needs involving a relative who has suffered due to issues with their medication.
Antipsychotic Drugs: The Silent Danger
Nursing homes are statistically known to give psychological medication for most patients residing in the home. The Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences has revealed startling facts: Almost 24 percent of people who moved into nursing homes were placed on some sort of medication regarding mental health. 14 percent of general residents are put on medication before even seeing a physician and 10 percent of residents were given a dose beyond the recommended level. The negligence of proper medication use can result in death or can further develop physical disease on top of many different types of preexisting diseases.
Symptoms of overdose or misuse:
- Chest Pain
- Erratic Behavior
- Confusion
- A sudden Change in Behavior - positive or negative
- Vomiting of blood
- Shallow breath
- Stroke
- Coma
- Nausea
- Sleepiness
- Death
Types of Residents to watch closely:
- Alzheimer Patients
- Dementia Patients
- Huntington's Disease
- New Patients
- Patients with chronic and acute Illness
Preventing misuse of medication or the improper disposal is an easy task. If Nursing home physicians, nurses, and employees can take extra steps to be watchful over residents, this may decrease the chances of misusing medication or improper dosage. Double and triple checking labels before administrating medication can help prevent any medication errors, this is not limited to just antipsychotic drugs but medications such as heart, lung, kidney disease. Aging is something we live with, and the care for a person who is aging or who may have onset of diseases should be taken care of with respect and delicacy.
Contact an Arizona Nursing Home Advocate Attorney
If someone in a Maricopa County nursing home or assisted living center has been a victim of misuse of medication or overmedication, An Arizona lawyer can help get you get the information you need to take legal action against the Nursing Homes For more information about the Scottsdale, Tempe, Phoenix, and surrounding areas, check out www.nursinghomeadvocates.com.
