What To Do If a Nursing Home Is Overmedicating Residents

Overmedication in nursing homes is dangerous and can cause rapid physical and cognitive decline in elderly residents. If you suspect a nursing home is overmedicating residents, take the following steps.

Step One: Document Changes and Warning Signs

Start by documenting everything you observe. Overmedication often shows up through gradual physical or behavioral changes rather than sudden medical events. Write down changes in alertness, mobility, mood, appetite, and sleep patterns. Note when symptoms began and whether they followed a medication change. Photographs, dated notes, and visitor observations help create a clear record that shows patterns over time.

Step Two: Request a Full Medication Review

Ask the facility for a complete medication list that includes drug names, dosages, schedules, and prescribing physicians. Request an explanation for why each medication is necessary and how staff monitor side effects.

You should also ask when medications were last reviewed and whether any drugs were added or increased recently. Facilities should provide clear answers. Vague explanations often indicate poor oversight.

Step Three: Seek an Independent Medical Evaluation

Request an evaluation from a physician not affiliated with the nursing home. An independent doctor can assess whether medications remain appropriate and whether alternatives exist. This step helps separate legitimate medical care from excessive or unnecessary sedation. Document any recommendations and confirm that the facility implements changes promptly.

Step Four: Watch for Ongoing Harm

Continue monitoring the resident closely after raising concerns. Watch for repeated sedation, falls, worsening confusion, or withdrawal. If the facility dismisses concerns or fails to act, it signals to families that further action may be necessary to protect the resident from continued harm.

Step Five: Call 911 in an Emergency

Call 911 immediately if you believe a resident is in immediate danger. Overmedication can cause life-threatening reactions, and emergency care may be necessary to stabilize the resident and prevent permanent harm. Never rely on a facility to determine whether emergency care is needed when symptoms are severe.

Step Six: Speak With a Lawyer

If overmedication persists or causes harm, speak with a Philadelphia Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can determine whether the facility violated care standards or used medication as a chemical restraint. A lawyer can review records, identify patterns, and advise on next steps to protect the resident and hold the facility accountable.

Step Seven: Pursue Legal Action if Overmedication Caused Harm

When overmedication continues despite complaints, causes injury, or results in serious decline, you have the right to pursue legal action. Pursuing a claim can protect your loved one, recover damages for the harm caused, and pressure the facility to correct dangerous practices before other residents suffer similar harm.

What are the Risks of Overmedication?

Elderly residents process medications differently, which increases the risk of adverse effects. Excessive medication can lead to falls, fractures, aspiration pneumonia, dehydration, kidney damage, heart issues, and accelerated cognitive decline. Medication used to control behavior rather than treat a condition can strip residents of dignity and independence.