Thursday, June 30, 2016

What You need to Know about Overmedication at Nursing Home Facilities

There are several different types of abuse that can occur at nursing home facilities, but according to nursing home abuse lawyers, one of the most deadly forms of abuse that sometimes transpires within the premises of such nursing homes is overmedication.


Most of us are aware and fearful about the potential dangers of excessive use of drugs such as anti-psychotics and other depressants used to sedate patients.

Many would know of someone that experienced overmedication abuse during their tenure at a nursing home, but is the risk real? Or is it something that has been blown out of proportion? Unfortunately, medical malpractice and nursing home abuse lawyers educate us that overmedication is in fact a real problem which is rampantly prevalent among nursing homes all across America.

Here are some statistics that further support claims that overmedication is actually more common than we would like to believe. 1. Over an estimated 30,000 patients are administered anti-psychotic drugs 2. Over 50% of these 30,000 people are on dangerous anti psychotics without any solid medical reason 3. 17% of patients that are on antipsychotics are on doses which are over twice the recommended dosage. 4. A staggering 15,000 residents die every year due to un-prescribed anti psychotics.


Now in the movie The Fighter we saw the opposite happen. Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale) was addicted to crack and other narcotics. When he was sent to prison for fighting the police and being a pimp and so on his supply of drugs was cut off. He went into detox. His fellow prisoners were laughing at him but this probably saved his life.  When Dicky Eklund was released from prison, he did not return to drugs and made it very clear to his drug supplying friends that he was a changed man.

Now when it comes to nursing homes, you do not want a loved one being pumped full of drugs for no reason.

If you even think this is happening press right here Nursing-Home-Abuse.USAttorneys. This website is a nursing home abuse perpetrator’s worst nightmare.

Why do staff members at nursing homes over medicate their patients?

The reason so many care givers resort to over medicating their patients is actually simple. The anti-psychotics and the depressants make them a lot easier to manage. In some nursing homes that are short staffed, sedated patients will prove to be a lot easier to handle, point out nursing home abuse attorneys.

If you believe a loved one or someone you know is being mistreated in a nursing home you need a nursing home abuse lawyer by your side real quick.  
Even though this is the primary reason for overmedication abuse, sometimes overmedication abuse is also the result of unsupervised, overworked, and fatigued caregivers.

Intentional overmedication and how to sue a nursing home for abuse

If you suspect that your loved ones are a victim of intentional overmedication by a nursing home, then you need to act quickly or you them becoming just another statistic. Do not waste any time in reaching out to a nursing home abuse lawyer to ensure that they are safe and cared for like they deserve to be.


Some warning signs to look out for if you suspect over medication are:
  1. Personality changes and drastic mood swings in the victim
  2. Reclusive actions from caregivers and family members
  3. Sedated, over sleeping, and lack of energy in the suspected victim
  4. Sudden unexplained health complications
Once your loved one is out of harm’s way, or even if they fall victim of overmedication at a nursing facility, you can consult a nursing home abuse lawyer and file a lawsuit in order to hold the nursing home legally liable and make them pay for the consequent damages. 

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