Negligent Medication Dispensation Causes Harm in Nursing Homes

 Posted on February 25, 2025 in Nursing Home Negligence

When you place your elderly loved one in a long-term care facility, you are placing trust in the staff, expecting them to respect and properly care for all residents. Proper care includes administering medications in a safe, responsible manner. Unfortunately, medication errors are all too common – and are often overlooked as a form of nursing home abuse and neglect.

When medications are not dispensed as ordered by a physician, severe adverse health complications and even death can result. If you believe your loved one’s health issues or death are the result of negligent dispensation of medications, speaking to an experienced Plainfield, IL personal injury lawyer can be extremely beneficial.

Different Types of Medication Errors in Nursing Homes

There are many different types of nursing home medication errors, including:

Over-Medication and Under-Medication

Over-medication occurs when residents are given higher doses of medication than prescribed by their physicians. Over-medication can result in excessive sleepiness, confusion, and cognitive impairments and is sometimes deliberately used to keep residents quiet and subdued. Sporadic administration of medication can be just as harmful. When a medication that is meant to prevent heart attacks or strokes is given only sporadically, a resident can suffer severe side effects or even death. Withholding medication for chronic pain can leave residents suffering needlessly.  

Administering the Wrong Medication

Nursing homes are busy and often understaffed. Unfortunately, this can lead to a resident receiving the wrong medication. While licensed nurses are supposed to administer medications, in many nursing homes, staff members administer medications "under the guidance of a nurse." When a resident is given the wrong medication, there may be allergic reactions, harmful drug interactions, and a worsening of chronic medical conditions.    

Improper Administration of Correct Medications

In some cases, the correct medication is administered to a resident, but the method of administration is incorrect. Some medications must be taken with food, while others should not be. Some medications should only be taken at night because they can cause sleepiness. Even something as simple as crushing a medication that should not be crushed so it can be mixed with food can cause adverse effects.  

Factors in Nursing Homes That Lead to Medication Errors

Most medication errors are preventable, which makes them even more heartbreaking. Understaffing is one of the most common – and most preventable - causes of medication errors in nursing homes. Nursing homes that hire unlicensed or inexperienced staff members are also likely to have more medication errors. Inexperienced staff members may not recognize potential drug interactions or could misread medication labels.  

Medication errors in nursing homes can also be attributed to poor communication between licensed nurses, doctors, and nursing home staff. A doctor could adjust a nursing home resident’s medication or stop a medication entirely. If these changes are not properly communicated to staff members in charge of medication administration, serious issues can result.

Finally, staff failure to properly monitor nursing home residents can lead to harmful consequences. Residents starting a new medication or ending a medication need regular monitoring to ensure they are responding as expected and have no dangerous side effects. Medical conditions can worsen, and the overall health of the resident can deteriorate when medications are not properly administered.

Contact a Will County, IL Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer

When medication is not properly administered to elderly patients, they can suffer a decreased quality of life and even death. When you choose a Plainfield, IL nursing home abuse and neglect attorney from Flaherty Law, LLC, you can expect a strong legal advocate who will fight for justice on behalf of your loved one. Attorney Flaherty began his career in insurance defense litigation, which gives him a unique perspective on nursing home abuse and neglect. Call 815-577-7500 to schedule your free consultation.