My Mother's Medication is Having Negative Effects. How Can I Get The Nursing Home to Adjust It?

Negative reactions to medicines are common among my clients’ loved ones. And I always tell them to start by documenting what they’re seeing. How do these negative effects manifest themselves? How often? Under what conditions?

Then make an appointment with the Director of Nursing at the home to talk it over. If you’re not satisfied with your conversation, ask to see the Administrator. And you should also attend the next care planning meeting for your mother. (Also, I advise my clients to call the doctor who prescribed the medicine, to make sure your mother’s not simply experiencing the common side-effects of starting a new medication.)

If you’re still feeling frustrated, you can contact the long-term care ombudsman in your state. These are trained volunteers who advocate for nursing home residents and their families. They can hopefully work out a solution with the nursing home.

As a last resort – and if you are your mother’s power of attorney for health care – you can ask the doctor to change the medication. (Keep in mind, though, that he/she may respond that it’s best not to change it.)

If you’re still not satisfied, you may consider moving her to another home. However, this is a step that should not be taken lightly! Moving can be very hard on people with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home, questions will pop into your mind a hundred times a day. It can seem overwhelming. But we can help.

At the Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we’re Elder Law attorneys. And we’ve been answering these questions for South Florida families for 33 years. We've helped thousands of them…with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid or the VA.

We have the answers to your questions. And we’re just a phone call away.