- Nursing Home Negligence and Misuse of Medications
Nursing Home Negligence and Misuse of Medications
Medications are part of many people’s everyday lives. Taking them as prescribed is important to their health. Sadly, when people are placed in nursing homes or long-term care facilities, their prescriptions are not always handled as they should.
The misuse of medications and sedatives are both frequent forms of nursing home abuse and neglect. If you feel your loved one’s medications are being misused, contact the nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at Berger and Green.
It is a nursing home’s responsibility to manage a patient’s medications. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Giving patients the wrong medication, overdosing and the abuse of sedatives are all forms of nursing home abuse.
Sometimes this abuse is unintentional. Overworked and understaffed nursing homes lack the ability to properly care for their residents. Although unintentional, this is still impermissible conduct and considered abuse.
Sometimes these acts can be intentional. Staff may give higher doses of medicine or even use sedatives to chemically restrain residents. This can be life threating to individuals.
Here are a few signs to look out for if you believe your loved one may be suffering from the misuse of medications or sedatives.
- Sudden changes in mood or behavior
- New or worsening health problems
- Lethargy or confusion
- Oversleeping/exhaustion
- Diminishing appetite
- Changes in physical appearance
If you feel your loved one may be suffering from the misuse of their medications, contact the nursing home abuse and neglect attorneys at Berger and Green for a free no obligation consultation
