Find Senior Care (City or Zip)
Join Now Log In
C
CarolPeaches Asked December 2022

Medications destroyed. Any advice?

My brother was transferred from the nursing home to a hospital and stayed for 5 days. We informed the Director of Nursing he would be returning. After he came back to the nursing home we were told all his prescription meds were destroyed 2 days after he left. Now he is faced with waiting a day or more for several critical drugs.


 


I know for a fact that at least one of these is $500 for a 30 day supply and several others were over $200 each. I am appalled at this blatant waste and cost to taxpayers (he is on Medi-Cal). Has anyone had this experience? What did you do about it?

Daphne131 Jan 2023
If a senior destroyed meds that is their right not to tele them anymore. It’s still their body their right. For cable medicixsong elders can be deemed elder abuse. Honestly, with some exceptions, stopping meds at a older age is normal. Ask yourself, Re the really e having long ivory and health. Usually, they have horrid side effects. People have a right over own body to not take meds even if mentally ill. You need a court order technically to force meds on even mentally ill. Most at this age are dying or near dying. Why are we as a society indoctrinated to keep medicating against the will of seniors, seniors in AL. Answer is to make medical manufacturers wealthier. Take a step back and ask wisely if the meds are still required. Low cholesterol and low blood pressure meds for a senior w Dimentia for example are unnecessary. You only prolong the torture of this dear senior.
JoAnn29 Jan 2023
The NH destroyed the residents meds while he was in the hospital. Carol cannot understand why they did this since he was returning to the NH once discharged from the hospital.
MargaretMcKen Dec 2022
I had the flip side experience of going into hospital with my normal drugs, and having them all removed and destroyed. It was a real trial replacing everything when I left. I thought it was simple theft, and I was furious!

I can see that there are potential problems with overdoses, thefts and patients with no sense, but some hospitals work as if their concerns rule the world.

ADVERTISEMENT


JoAnn29 Dec 2022
You have a valid complaint but you may want to find out what the State law is that the NH has to abide by when a patent is out of the facility for a certain # of days. I agree, call your State Ombudsman.

If he is on Medi-cal, they are responsible to pay for the replacement. NHs do not have pharmacies on site like Hospitals. Did the Hospital not send him back with medications?

MACinCT Dec 2022
Ombudsman

Geaton777 Dec 2022
Ugh, I'm so sorry this happened. I don't know what the recourse is except to be a very squeaky wheel and demand the meds be replaced at their expense. Make the case that if you had known they'd be discarded you would have taken them with you. The bigger take-away for all of us is to make sure to scoop up everything when someone leaves one location and goes to another, even temporarily. To be fair, they cannot just leave someone's meds lying around in an empty room, especially if they are opioids. Even if they're not, it is a liability issue for them and that's why they did it. Also it's too difficult to keep track of people's partially used meds in their absence. I hope you can get replacements at no cost to you. Maybe come back with an update so that others can learn from this experience.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask a Question

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter