Use of antipsychotic drugs is gaining attention from the medical and public arenas. Antipsychotic drug dispensing has increase, while the necessity has not. Nursing home doctors are prescribing increased amounts of drugs used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorders.

A nursing home case has set a precedent by disputing the fact that doctors do not obtain legal consent when prescribing antipsychotic drugs to their patients.  Doctors were quoted in depositions in the case for saying it was not their job to obtain consent from family members when prescribing antipsychotic drugs to Alzheimer’s patients without schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Family members were outraged by the medication prescribed to loved ones and how it affected their demeanor. A laws…

Experts are working to expose prevalence of elder abuse in various circumstances, including nursing homes and care centers.  Studies show that many cases of elder abuse go unreported, unnoticed and untreated.  Education of the public is the focus for fighting elder abuse. “The shock on people’s faces when we tell them that it exists that shock on people’s faces is all I need to see to know that it’s not getting the attention that it needs,” said one attorney who represents the elderly,…

Haz Mat is trying to identify the cause of a chemical leak in a nursing home. With two evacuations in less than 48 hours, the clock is ticking to identify the cause. The facility was tested for carbon monoxide and ruled out as the chemical source.

One nursing home is beginning to integrate substance abuse rehabilitation and recovery with long-term care facilities.  Baby boomers with addictions are predicted to increase to 5-7 million in 2020, double the amount since 2006. In order to combat the additions, the nursing home has opened eight beds for patients battling rehabilitation and recovery.

A nursing home employee has been charged on five counts of theft for stealing jewelry from patients. The value of the stolen jewelry amounts to $22,000. The caregiver slipped the jewelry off the patients while they were sleeping.