Elder Law

Restrictions Sought in Illinois for Chemical Restraints in Nursing Homes

By Levin & Perconti

Nursing home resident advocates in Illinois are pushing for new rules on the use of antipsychotic drugs among nursing home residents. This would prevent the misuse of the drugs as a form of chemical restraint in nursing homes. A grassroots organization that fights to improve nursing home care in the state, entitled Illinois Citizens for Better Care, is pushing for new state laws and regulations that would prevent nursing homes and doctors from using antipsychotic and psychotropic drugs as a form of chemical restraint on the elderly residents. The concerns over the use of certain drugs have increased considerably as the result of the Chicago Tribune?s reports on problems in Illinois nursing homes. The Illinois governor has established the Nursing Home Safety task Force to address the nursing home abuse problems that were uncovered by the investigation. A recent study has find that the side effects of the antispychotics commonly given to elderly residents have been linked to death and strokes. Nursing home care advocates say that the state could prevent the ?off-label? use of antipsychotics in eldely patients by refusing to pay for those specific drugs. Also the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family can grant consent for the drugs on a case-by-case basis. The use of standardized forms and disclosure may also help the problems associated by the drugs. The use of chemical restraints is becoming commonplace as physical restraints become outlawed. If you or a loved one has been harmed by chemical restraints, please contact an Illinois lawyer. To read more about the solutions for chemical restraints, please click the link.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on January 08, 2010 (boomark / email).