Where do I turn next after consistent medication mistakes at my assisted living facility?

I live in an assisted living facility. For three years now they have made mistakes with my medication. Forgetting to give me pills, or the wrong pills or forgetting to order my pills. I emailed the head of the facility, the head nurse and brought up the topic at council meetings over the last three years. Fortunately, I am mentally aware enough to see mistakes. With no help, where do I turn to next? What are the steps to follow next? I am loss. Thank you

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My daughter found another LPN stealing pills. She noticed the med list was written in the same hand same pen and questioned it. With 3 shifts of med passes, the handwriting is different and so are the pens. An LPN she confronted said he spilled coffee on the list and redid it. Really, he was stealing meds from patients. Every time a medication is given the residents name, the medicine given and nurses initials are listed on the paperwork. Pills are in blister pks so easier to count. IMO, this is how it should be at your AL.

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This is serious and if you were in a LTC facility the State would be coming in and checking the medication records, find the errors and fine the facility. Not sure how strict the State is concerning ALs.
In my state, only an LPN, RN or Medtech can handle medications. A CNA is not medically trained and cannot give out meds.

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Contact your state’s Dept. of Health and file a complaint. You can also contact your state’s Attorney General’s office. In Colorado, these are viable options. Every state or country is different, but it’s a place to start.

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Have you documented each instance, including the staff member involved?   I think that might be the first step, as you'll need proof, and presumably it could be found in the medication disbursement charts.

It seems though that you're "on top of the situation", but not getting any realistic response.

Is this a chain facility, with a central HQ which owns all the facilities?   If so, research online, locate that HQ, and contact them, in writing.  Include executive level staff, not just one person who could fluff off the issue.

If not, and it's an independent facility, start with your state's corporation division (or check your admission documents), to determine who the owners/officers, etc. are and contact them in writing.

CountryMouse wisely addressed the issue of Ombudsman/woman involvement.   I'd try that as well. You might learn that you aren't the only one who's experienced this.

I don't know if this would work, but it's worth considering:   ask specifically for minutes of the council meeting, and why no apparent efforts were made to address the situation, or at the minimum, provide an explanation to you (to which you ARE entitled).

As a last resource, you could try to involve an elder care attorney, but I'm not sure one would want to get involved unless he/she saw the opportunity for more than what the facility might classify as a few mistakes.   I.e., if an attorney spotted a trend, and others experienced the same mistakes, he/she might try to elevate the issue to suing on behalf of any resident, such as a class action suit.     That likely would involve initiating an exploratory suit to get access to med records, but the issue of a class action as well as privacy issues would have to be addressed by the attorney first.

I would also seriously consider exploring other facilities and consider moving.  There's no excuse for this to happen.

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My brother took his own medications on his own in his ALF. Is there a reason that cannot be done at your facility?

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Moms facility did not allow the residents to take their own meds. May be a State thing.

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Ombudsman.

Here is where you can make an official complaint:

http://www.dayton-ombudsman.org/makeacomplaint.html

Gosh I love the internet!

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Where do I turn next after consistent medication mistakes at my assisted living facility?

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