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Florida nursing home and assisted living residents are most likely to be prescribed medications to manage their health conditions and alleviate discomfort.

Doctors usually prescribe these medications in the proper dosage and timing for their patients. Pharmacists are responsible for filling the prescriptions to the doctors’ specifications. Nursing home and assisted living managers and staff are required to ensure residents receive these medications at the correct time and according to the doctors’ orders.

"If the professionals who are charged with the duty to care for nursing home and assisted living residents fail to provide medications as prescribed, they are negligent in their duties. This negligence can cause severe consequences, including tragic deaths,” said Fort Myers Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Randall Spivey.

Causes of Medication Errors

There are numerous reasons a nursing home or assisted living residents may have medication error injuries or tragic deaths that include but are not limited to:

• The pharmacist fails to correctly fill the prescription (wrong medicine, wrong dosage, mislabeled prescription).
• The nursing home or assisted living facility staff:
  • Administers the wrong medication or wrong dosage.
  • Administers the medication in the wrong manner or to the wrong patient.
  • Fails to record a resident’s last dose of medication and another staff member double-doses the patient.
  • Fails to recognize medication expiration dates.
• If the resident is being given over-the-counter products, these over-the-counter products may contradict any current medication the resident may be taking.
• Medication side effects are not recognized by nursing homes or assisted living facility staff.
• Poor staff training, understaffing, and stress. 

The National Library of Medicine reports  that every year in the United States alone 7,000 to 9,000 people die due to a medication error. In addition, hundreds of thousands of other patients experience, but often do not report, an adverse reaction or other complications related to a medication. 

Signs of Medication Errors 

Side effects from medication errors can compile quickly. Experts agree that the most common symptoms include fatigue, loss of energy, motor difficulties, memory and concentration deterioration, confusion, general pain, hallucinations, and breathing difficulties. Nursing home and assisted living residents may have allergic reactions to medications including rashes and breathing difficulties. 

Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility State Guidelines 

The Florida Department of Health has guidelines that facilities must follow. These guidelines include which staff members may administer medications in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. 

Protecting Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility Residents 

“We protect the rights of nursing home or assisted living victims. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured because of a prescription error in a nursing home or assisted living facility, it is important to contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. Depending on the circumstances, a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit may be filed. Victims may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses including past, present, and future losses, pain, and suffering - a non-economic loss that includes physical pain resulting from the injury, disfigurement, and aggravation of a pre-existing condition. You may contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. 24/7, at 239.337.7483, toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or online at SpiveyLaw.com. There are no costs or attorney fees until we receive a monetary recovery for you,” said Attorney Spivey. “We represent people involved in numerous types of personal injury and wrongful death accidents throughout the state of Florida. All of our clients have unique personal injury cases. Our firm provides personal contact and communication along with aggressive representation. 

Attorney Randall Spivey is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Attorney. There is only 1 percent of Florida lawyers who are Board-Certified in Civil Trial Law and allowed to identify themselves as “Florida Bar Board Certified”. 

Should your loved one be injured by negligent care in a nursing home, contact Spivey Law Firm 24/7 at 239.337.7483, toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or online at SpiveyLaw.com. There are no costs or attorney fees until the firm receives a monetary recovery.