• 21
  • October
    2010

The use of chemical restraints in nursing homes has increased over the last several years. Many times nursing homes put their patients on drugs even though the patients do not have psychiatric diagnosis. Instead of treating an ailment, the regiment of drugs is used by the nursing home to more easily manage the patient. According to a study conducted in Florida, at a majority of nursing homes new nursing home patients were put on drugs within the first three months of their stay. In addition, an alarming 15 percent of nursing home patients were on four or more different drugs. Even though laws exist to regulate the use of antipsychotic medications in nursing homes, nursing home negligence still occurs when nursing home legal compliance waxes and wanes.

An example of a new nursing home patient being disciplined through drugs is the story Mr. H. Mr. H had mild dementia yet was still an active and energetic senior. He became a nursing home patient to safeguard his health and to make sure he could be cared for fully. Though Mr. H was described as a "grumpy old man" the nursing home that provided for his care thought he needed to be chemically restrained because he was viewed as a psychotic.

Mr. H was put on Risperdal and Haldol; two antipsychotic drugs that put him in a catatonic state involuntarily. Because of the drugs Mr. H went from being an upbeat individual to being mentally foggy and drowsy. He lost 10 pounds because he stopped eating and drinking regularly. Mr. H eventually got incontinence and needed a catheter. The catheter was incorrectly placed and punctured his urethra. The punctured urethra caused an extensive infection and the infection ultimately killed him.

Source: American Association for Justice, "Standing Up For Seniors: How the Civil Justice System Protects Elderly Americans," October 2010