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Nursing Home Negligence

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Is Your Loved One A Victim of Kansas City Nursing Home Overmedication? Learn The Signs

In the past, nursing homes were not well regulated. In many long term care facilities, elderly residents were drugged with psychoactive drugs such as an antidepressant or antipsychotics, in order keep the residents manageable and reduce staff time they required. After all, a resident who sleeps all day doesn’t require a lot of care.

Experts took notice and a law was passed. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 required that new nursing home residents be assessed for mental illness before being treated. The Act also encouraged the use of non-drug treatments such as psychotherapy and counseling.

In a recent study, researchers at the University of South Florida determined that within three months of admission to Florida nursing homes, 71 percent of Medicaid residents were receiving a psychoactive medications even though most of the residents did not have a history of mental illness or even a psychiatric diagnosis. Fifteen percent of residents were taking four or more of these medications. Only rarely (12%) did residents receive non-drug treatments.

However, the nursing homes are not breaking the law. A loophole allows residents who are admitted directly from a hospital to be exempt from screening.

According to the author of the study, psychoactive drugs may react with other drugs taken by the elderly and cause problems such as falls, confusion and delirium. The effects of drugs can interfere with activities such as walking, standing, eating and engaging in other activities.

How can you know if your loved one is being overmedicated? Look for signs of a sudden change in behavior or mental status or a lack of responsiveness. Some of the most common signs of overmedication include:

• Fatigue
• Memory Loss
• Confusion
• Swelling
• Pain
• Abdominal Pain

Doctors may prescribe more medication to deal with the side effects.

Remember sudden changes in behavior or mental status may be signs of nursing home abuse.

If you suspect your loved one is being overmedicated, ask to see a list of their prescriptions. If you suspect nursing home abuse, contact the Kansas City nursing home neglect attorneys at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys. Call 1-888-348-2616 to schedule a fee consultation with a Missouri nursing home abuse lawyer.

For more information about the signs of Kansas City nursing home abuse, download our free guide, “Nursing Home Neglect How to Recognize and Stop It.”

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