The Reality of Medication Mistakes in Florida Nursing Homes

While there are many different reasons why elderly people live in nursing homes, such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and other medical issues, they all generally have one thing in common. Medication. Seniors tend to take at least one daily medication, and most elderly nursing home residents take multiple medications on a daily basis.

Because some medications need to be taken with food, and others need to be given to patients with water and at different times of the day, caregivers are supposed to monitor their patients and dispense medications properly. Unfortunately, statistics indicate that numerous medication mistakes are taking place in nursing homes. Shockingly, some of these mistakes made with nursing home patients’ medications have life-threatening consequences.

There are more than 50 million medication mistakes annually that occur in nursing homes nationwide, according to data from the National Institutes of Health. While this is jaw dropping information, it is even more outrageous to find out that 800,000 nursing home or long-term care residents are injured and 100,000 die as a result of medication errors.

What Can You Do to Help?

Because elderly people living in nursing homes are one of the most vulnerable groups of people in this nation, they need advocates to stand up for them. This is why family members of nursing home patients should take proactive steps by visiting often and reading the medication log.

By monitoring your loved one’s medication regimen, you may be able to help protect your family member from a medication mistake. However, if your loved one already suffered the effects of a medication mistake in a nursing home, you need to contact a knowledgeable nursing home abuse lawyer in Fort Lauderdale. You can reach the Law Offices of David Benenfeld for a free consultation at 866-9 HELP NOW or (561) 960-5515(561) 960-5515 today.