If you have a loved one who is in a New Mexico nursing home, you may worry about his or her safety. You have to hand over the care of this person to people you do not know. It is essential that you can trust them. However, nursing home problems are not something new. Mistakes happen and sometimes intentional actions lead to serious health issues and even death. One such situation is the overprescribing or other misuse of medications.
AARP notes deaths from medications are common in nursing homes. Caregivers may administer drugs to your loved one without consulting you. In some cases, they may prescribe medications that are known to cause problems. For example, psychotropic drugs are heavily overused in nursing homes. They can lead to death for patients who have dementia.
It is essential that you stay on top of your loved one’s care. Ensure if he or she is given any medications that you are alerted first and give your consent. Many times caregivers try to justify giving medication as an emergency solution to behavior issues, but this is when horrific things occur, such as the death of a patient.
You are your loved one’s advocate. You need to make sure he or she is being treated fair. Often when psychotropic drugs are given, it is to make things easier on the staff, so you can often prevent this from happening by ensuring your loved one is in a place that has adequate staff who are properly trained. This information is for education and is not legal advice.