Arizona Disability Advocates for Group Home Medication Errors
When you have a loved one in a group home environment, you should be able to trust that the administrators and staff of the group home are doing all they can to ensure the group home residents receive the highest level of care possible. Unfortunately, in order to cut costs, many group homes employ overworked, underpaid, and inexperienced staff members, and do not give them the proper training for handing residents’ medical, social, and emotional needs.
One of the most prevalent problems in group home situations is errors in dispensing medication. According to a study by the Center for Safety and Clinical Excellence, medication errors account for at least 7,000 deaths per year in the United States. Group home residents often require many different types of medication. Due to their individualized needs, every group home resident will have different medication needs, and it can be difficult for inexperienced and poorly trained staff members to remember and properly carry out each resident’s medication needs.
If you believe that your loved one has been the victim of a medication error at their group home in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe or elsewhere in Maricopa County, you should contact an Arizona group home abuse lawyer to discuss your case and decide the best course of action to take.
It is important that you speak with a group home abuse attorney and pursue proper action not only to receive proper compensation for the abuse done to your loved one, but also to expose abusive and negligent behavior at your loved one’s group home and help to put changes in place to protect your loved one and other residents.
Types of Medication for Group Home Residents
As mentioned earlier, group home residents may have a wide array of medication needs. Common medications dispensed in group home settings include:
- Anti-seizure medication
- Blood thinners
- Antidepressants
- Tranquilizers
- Antipsychotic drugs
- Anti-anxiety drugs
Common Medication Errors
According to the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention, medication error is defined as "any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer." Some common medication errors in group homes include:
- Incorrect dosages
- Misread medication instructions
- Residents receiving another resident’s medication
- Skipped doses
- Medication given at improper times
Communication Problems and Medication Errors
Many group home residents have disabilities that impair their ability to communicate with their health care providers. Some group home residents are blind or deaf, while others have development disabilities. Due to their inability to communicate, group home residents may not be able to tell their health care provider that they are receiving the wrong medication or not receiving their normal medication. Therefore, the responsibility falls completely on the group home staff members to ensure that they are dispensing the correct medication and in the correct dosages.
Contact an Arizona Group Home Abuse Lawyer
If you believe that your loved one may be a victim of group home abuse or neglect due to medication errors in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale or elsewhere in Maricopa County, it is best to consult with an Arizona group home abuse lawyer to discuss your case. For more information, please visit http://www.grouphomeabuselawyer.com/
