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Nursing Home Overmedication

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4.9 rating of 147 reviews
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michelle stump

12 days ago

Working with Ed and Amber has been a true pleasure. They handled my claim efficiently and professionally, ensuring the process moved smoothly from start to finish. Their responsiveness, expertise, and effectiveness in working with the insurance carrier contributed greatly to a successful resolution. I sincerely appreciate their efforts, dedication, and guidance throughout the matter, and I am grateful for the outstanding service they provided.

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Johanna Bukowski

1 month ago

Ed and Maggie have both been a pleasure to work with! They keep you up to date on your case, clearly explain the process and next steps along the way, respond quickly to any questions and always offer different options to discuss details (email, phone, text, Zoom, etc.). What I appreciate more than anything, is their genuine compassion and concern for you as a person. They both demonstrate true empathy for what is most likely one of the most unexpected and traumatic events in a person’s life and do everything they can to ensure justice is served. I highly recommend Collins Law!

Jeff Matticks avatar

Jeff Matticks

2 months ago

I became aware of Collins Law Group after I was involved in a motorcycle, several years ago. Since that time I have reached out to Ed Manzke, at Collins Law Group, for assistance in a couple of other areas. In each instance, I have found Ed and his team to be very helpful with great communication, keeping me informed every step along the way. Everyone who I have interacted with, at Collins Law Group, demonstrated that they are interested in building relationships so that you know who you can turn to for any of your legal needs.

Ella Folson avatar

Ella Folson

3 months ago

Chris and John were attentive and thorough to my needs throughout my entire case. I appreciate the all the time and effort they took. I will be recommending their services going forward to family and friends! Thank you so much for all your help!

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J. Savv

3 months ago

Ed Manzke was very patient and kind with helping me and my sister with our mom’s case. He often took the time out his day to explain everything to ensure we understood what was going on. The law firm itself is organized making our whole process run smoothly. I appreciate Ed and his team.

Unique Morris avatar

Unique Morris

3 months ago

Ed Manzke was very informative, clear and honest when it came to my mother and father’s case. He took his time with all of my questions and concerns, making sure that no questions went unanswered and that there was no room for confusion with our case. I’m forever grateful for Ed and everyone at the law firm.

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Nick Erlenbaugh

3 months ago

Collins Law was recommended to me after I was involved in an accident with a semi-truck. Amber Blevins was exceptional to work with. She is a total pro at what she does and made the process as easy as she could for me. Ed ensured I received the best outcome possible and exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend this firm to anyone who might be shopping around for an attorney!

Dwayne Kurfirst avatar

Dwayne Kurfirst

3 months ago

I want to take a moment to recognize John at Collins Law for the incredible work he did in helping my mom secure her settlement. It wasn’t a quick or easy process—it took time, patience, and persistence—but John stayed committed every step of the way. What stood out most was his professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care for getting the best possible outcome. He kept us informed, navigated the complexities with confidence, and ultimately delivered results that truly made a difference for our family. If you’re looking for someone who will put in the work, stand by you through a long process, and follow through, I highly recommend John and the team at Collins Law.

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Helen Montague

5 months ago

We are fortunate to have had the chance to work with John Risvold as he represented my brother in his case. Professional, personable and authentic in his manner, John kept us informed throughout the long process, and was always available to respond to my many questions. Having never been involved with a law suit, I really appreciated John's patience (especially since I am 1,000 miles away) and his genuine care for my brother's well being. We are forever grateful, John. Thank you.

Matthew Malone avatar

Matthew Malone

6 months ago

I had an excellent experience being represented by Collins Law Firm. Ed Manzke and Amber Blevins were amazing to work with and truly helped me in my time of need. Both were extremely personable and knowledgeable throughout every step of the way. I would absolutely recommend them for anyone’s legal needs.

Ronnie Sanchez avatar

Ronnie Sanchez

6 months ago

I had an excellent experience with The Collins Law firm. Amber was extremely helpful, kind, and friendly throughout the entire process. She took the time to explain everything clearly whenever I didn’t understand something, which meant a lot to me. I truly felt supported and informed. I will absolutely seek Collin’s help again if I ever need legal assistance in the future. Thank you again :)

Maddie Scheele avatar

Maddie Scheele

6 months ago

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Ed Manzke and Amber Blevins. They are truly the best of the best. The efficiency and professionalism throughout the entire process of my case has been unmatched. What I really want to point out, though, is the empathy and compassion both Amber and Ed hold. That was the true difference maker. I knew they both prioritized my well-being and made that their number one priority. They represented me to their highest capabilities through every step of my case, and I cannot thank them and Collins Law Firm enough.

Leticia Pink avatar

Leticia Pink

7 months ago

Ms. Maggie Galka is an experienced environmental (radon) attorney who prioritizes her clients' health and safety in her legal practice. She maintains thorough records and offers strategic advice while working with government agencies. Ms. Galka demonstrates key values such as integrity, expertise, respect, empathy, and compassion essential for positive outcomes. Her professionalism, follow-up and communication skills are excellent. Ms. Galka's guidance extends beyond legal issues, and the Collins Law Firm advocates strongly and effectively for clients. We sincerely thank Collins Law Firm, and in particular Ms. Galka, for helping our family reach a successful outcome and for their meaningful impact on our community. I strongly recommend Ms. Galka and Collins Law Firm as an outstanding legal firm.

Megan avatar

Megan

7 months ago

I can’t say enough good things about John Risvold at The Collins Law Firm. From start to finish, John was professional, responsive, and incredibly knowledgeable. He took the time to explain everything clearly, kept me informed throughout the process, and always made me feel like my case truly mattered. His dedication, attention to detail, and genuine care made a stressful situation much easier to handle. John’s expertise and clear communication built a lot of trust, and I’m very grateful for his hard work. I would highly recommend John Risvold to anyone looking for a reliable and skilled attorney.

David Bretti avatar

David Bretti

7 months ago

(Translated by Google) They are very responsible in what they do, they were able to resolve my case quickly and efficiently, I especially recommend Mr. Chris for always being in contact and being honest throughout the process 👏🏻 (Original) Son muy responsables en lo que hacen, pudieron resolver mi caso de forma rápida y eficaz, recomendando, especialmente el Se Chris por siempre estar en contacto y ser sincero en todo el proceso 👏🏻

Jas R. avatar

Jas R.

7 months ago

Amber was very thorough, informative, and made this process very easy for me, which I greatly appreciated considering all the events that led up to this point. Justice isn’t always served, but working with Collin’s Law Firm really me feel that my injuries were tangibly worth something, and that to some degree, justice was served. Would highly recommend this law firm to anyone seeking out a personal injury firm/attorney.

Amy Ressen avatar

Amy Ressen

8 months ago

I wana say a huge thank you to the Collin’s Law firm and Chris Gauthier for helping me with my Complicated case. They helped me put my life back together after a horrible incident that I didn’t think I could over come. Chris was always good about communicating and he made sure I got what I deserved! I highly recommend this law firm they were so kind and reassuring that things would work out. Thank you again for all the hard work and being there to help me through the process when I didn’t know where to turn to for help! Thanks again Chris and The Collin’s Law firm!

Lauren Dryanski avatar

Lauren Dryanski

9 months ago

I had an exceptional experience with Collins Law Firm . A special thank you to Chris, my lawyer, and Patti, the legal assistant. They helped me navigate my car accident proceedings from start to finish, and I always felt like I was in great hands. Chris was incredibly knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and explained everything in a way I could understand. He always made sure I felt informed and supported, especially when it came to legal details I wouldn’t normally know. Patti was also wonderful—very helpful, communicative, and always made sure I had everything I needed throughout the process. I never once doubted this team. They made everything easy and stress-free. I would absolutely recommend Collins Law Firm to anyone in need of legal support!

Will Brooks avatar

Will Brooks

10 months ago

John brings impressive expertise and heartfelt dedication to every matter he handles. His thoughtful approach and clear communication make it easy to trust his advice, and it’s evident he is committed to fighting for what’s right with both professionalism and empathy. John’s balance of insightful expertise and warm, personal attention truly sets him apart.

Icela Hernandez avatar

Icela Hernandez

11 months ago

If ever needed. I will gladly go to the Collins law firm again. They were always quick to respond any questions. Happy to say case is closed and all went well .

Overmedication in Nursing Homes

Entrusting the care of a loved one to a nursing home is a difficult choice to make, but you make that decision so that your loved ones can receive the care that they need. You should never have to worry that a nursing home is neglecting or abusing a family member. Unfortunately, many nursing home residents are being victimized by one common form of abuse and neglect: overmedication. In fact, "overmedicating" is increasing to almost epidemic proportions among the elderly. Our nursing home attorneys understand the dangers posed by overmedication and can help you if your loved one has suffered as a result of this kind of neglect or abuse at a senior care facility.

What is Overmedication?

Overmedication occurs when a nursing home patient is given too much medication--usually significantly more than they need--or given unnecessary medication. There are two different types of overmedication: accidental and intentional.

  • Accidental overmedication Overmedicating a resident accidentally is unacceptable, but it is not done intentionally to harm someone. This type of overmedication happens for a variety of reasons but is usually caused by untrained or overworked staff members, poor communication, or poor management. If a resident is accidentally overmedicated, it may indicate nursing home neglect.
  • Intentional overmedication Deliberately overmedicating residents is an insidious form of nursing home abuse. Intentional overmedication occurs when the staff at a nursing home give residents more than their prescribed amount of medication or a medication they are not prescribed in order to chemically sedate them. The most common medications for this type of abuse are sedatives or antipsychotics. This type of nursing home abuse diminishes the quality of life of residents, making them overly sleepy, confused, groggy, and lethargic.

Why Do Nursing Homes Intentionally Overmedicate?

Nursing homes that overmedicate or chemically sedate their residents usually do so to keep the residents docile and under control, or to limit their movements. Seniors who are calm and sleep a lot are easier to manage and require less attention from staff members, which makes drugging patients cost-effective for a nursing home. Regardless of the reason, this form of abuse is completely unacceptable and can result in serious health consequences for nursing home residents.

Health Consequences Associated With Overmedication

Many of the drugs used to medicate nursing home residents, such as antipsychotics, have a host of potentially dangerous side effects. Their use in elderly patients can result in cognitive decline, altered consciousness, memory loss, a decline in mobility and strength, a greater risk of falling, an inability to communicate, depression, and even death. A report by Human Rights Watch concluded that” In an average week, nursing facilities in the United States administer antipsychotic drugs to over 179,000 people who do not have diagnoses for which the drugs are approved. The drugs are often given without free and informed consent, which requires a decision based on a discussion of the purpose, risks, benefits, and alternatives to the medical intervention as well as the absence of pressure or coercion in making the decision. Most of these individuals—like most people in nursing homes—have Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.” This medication is being used to make patients with dementia or Alzheimer's more docile and control unwanted behavior. Unfortunately, studies have shown that the use of antipsychotic drugs almost doubles the risk of death in older people with dementia or Alzheimer’s. The FDA has estimated that over 15,000 nursing home residents die each year due to overmedication abuse. Yet, the practice continues, despite Federal regulations that require patients to be fully informed of their treatment and to be permitted to refuse treatment if they wish, as well as state regulations that require informed consent before the administration of antipsychotics.

Warning Signs of Overmedication

Recognizing that your loved one is being overmedicated can be relatively simple if you know what to look for. Below are some of the warning signs of overmedication:

  • Changes in behavior or personality
  • Confusion
  • Difficulty thinking
  • Fatigue
  • Hallucinations
  • Infections
  • Issues with balance
  • New, unexplained medical conditions
  • New physical injuries or ailments
  • New psychological conditions
  • Oversleeping
  • Rashes
  • Reclusiveness
  • Unexplained weight loss or gain

If you have noticed any of these warning signs in your loved one, contact the experienced nursing home abuse lawyer at Collins Law Group to discuss what steps you should take to ensure the safety of your loved one.

What You Can Do if You Suspect Your Loved One Is Being Overmedicated

If you have a family member in a nursing home and they are being overmedicated, or you suspect they are being overmedicated, you should ask the facility for a list of all of the medications being administered. Ask questions about why your loved one is on specific medications, and ask to speak to their doctor about weaning them off any medications that are not prescribed for them or that are not medically appropriate. If you are not satisfied with the answers you get, you can report the facility to the Illinois Long Term Care Ombudsman, the Adult Protective Services Hotline at 1-866-800-1409, or the Illinois Department of Health Central Complaint Registry Hotline at 800-252-4343. Then you should look into finding a new facility for your loved one that does not rely on medicating patients to control their behavior.

Call the Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys at Collins Law Group for Help

If you have lost a loved one to overmedication or have seen a family member’s health decline as a result of overmedication, you should call our experienced nursing home abuse attorney as soon as possible. At Collins Law Group, we know the devastating effects of overmedication, and we stand ready to protect and fight for you and your loved one. We encourage you to call us to discuss whether you have the right to take legal action against the nursing home responsible for your loved one’s pain and suffering. Call us at (630) 527-1595 or fill out our contact form for a free evaluation of your nursing home overmedication case.

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