When Sedatives Should and Should Not Be Used in Nursing Homes

Sedatives are drugs that are used to provide a calming or sleepy effect for hospital and nursing home patients.  Sedatives do have appropriate uses in a nursing home setting.  They can be used for the following reasons:

 

•  Providing a relaxing effect prior to a medical procedure

 

•  Controlling anxiety and depression

 

•  Management of insomnia

 

•  Controlling hypertension and epilepsy

 

•  Easing muscular tension

 

•  Managing neurotic episodes

 

Because many nursing home patients have these conditions, sedatives may be used for proper control and management of the patient.  Using sedatives can provide pain management, allow for rest, and also prevent the patients from hurting themselves.  A Riverside nursing home abuse lawyer can give you more information on how nursing homes use sedatives properly.  Any use of sedatives that is not medically necessary is an improper use of sedatives.  If your loved one does not have a medical condition that requires a sedative or experience anxiety or depression, there is no need for one to be administered.  Giving a larger dose of sedatives than necessary can also be considered abuse.  If you feel that your loved one is being given sedatives unnecessarily, contact a Riverside nursing home abuse attorney to find out what you can do to stop this abuse.