Nursing Home Medication Errors Lawyer

Medication Errors in Nursing Homes in 2026

Medication errors in nursing homes include any preventable mistake that leads to inappropriate medication use or patient harm. Because many residents take multiple medications and have chronic health problems, even small errors can turn deadly.

Approximately 37% of nursing home injuries, complications, or medical setbacks are caused by medication errors, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Common nursing home medication errors include: 

• Dose mistakes: Providing too much or too little medication
• Duplicate doses: Administering the same drug more than once
• Expired medications: Providing drugs that are past their expiration date
• Ignored side effects: Failing to act on signs like dizziness, confusion, or bleeding
• Incorrect medications: Confusing medications with similar names or packaging
• Missed medications: Forgetting or skipping scheduled doses
• Poor timing: Giving medications too early, late, or close together
• Resident mixups: Incorrectly administering another resident’s prescription
• Unsafe drug combinations: Prescribing medications that shouldn’t be taken together

When medication mistakes happen, they may be considered nursing home neglect. In that case, families may be able to file a nursing home medication error lawsuit to seek compensation for medical bills, a safer facility, and more.

As a national nursing home abuse law firm, Sokolove Law can help families across the country investigate medication errors, identify signs of neglect, and pursue accountability when a facility’s failures cause harm.

Medication Errors in Nursing Homes Statistics

Medication errors in nursing homes happen often, but they're never acceptable. Data from federal agencies and researchers show that residents are exposed to mistakes at alarming rates, often with serious or even fatal consequences.

Medication errors in nursing home statistics include:

• Nearly 40% of adverse events in nursing home patients are related to medication errors, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
• 90% of residents were exposed to at least 1 medication administration error during a 3-month period, as reported by BMC Geriatrics.
• In that same study, roughly 52% of residents experienced a “serious error,” like an attempt to give a medication to the wrong resident.
• The most common medication errors were trying to administer drugs too early, at the wrong time, on the wrong day, or to the incorrect patient.
• A review of 11 studies found that medication errors in nursing homes affected about 16% to 27% of residents, and errors related to patient transfers occurred in 13% to 31% of cases.
• At least 165 nursing home residents were hospitalized or died after errors involving the blood thinner Coumadin^® (or its generic version warfarin) during a 3-year period, according to ProPublica. The number is likely higher due to underreporting.

“Nursing homes are the ‘perfect setup for bad things happening’ with medications like Coumadin.”
– Dr. Jerry Gurwitz, University of Massachusetts Medical School

Behind every statistic is a real person whose safety was put at risk. If your loved one was harmed by a medication error, you don’t have to navigate this alone. Legal help is available to hold the facility accountable and seek compensation.

Are Nursing Medication Errors in Long-Term Care Facilities Neglect?

Yes, medication errors in nursing homes are often more than simple mistakes — they can be a sign of nursing home neglect.

Federal and state laws require facilities to follow strict medication safety protocols, monitor residents closely, and prevent avoidable harm. When those obligations are ignored, residents can suffer serious injuries.

Medication errors may indicate nursing home neglect when:

• A resident is harmed and the facility does not investigate, report, or correct the mistake, allowing the same errors to continue
• Facility systems break down, leading to poor documentation, lack of communication, or failure to follow industry standards
• Staffing, training, or supervision is inadequate, resulting in repeated lapses in medication management
• The error was foreseeable and preventable, but the facility failed to put proper safety protocols or safeguards in place

Not every error is a sign of neglect. However, when a pattern of medication mistakes and resident harm occurs, nursing home negligence is often the underlying cause.

If you're unsure whether your loved one’s medication error resulted from negligence, Sokolove Law can help. We can review what happened, explain your legal rights, and help you figure out your next steps.

Types of Medication Errors in Nursing Homes

Medication errors in nursing homes may occur when medications are given incorrectly, in the wrong amount, at the wrong time, or to the wrong person. Errors can also happen when side effects are ignored or when staff fail to monitor residents after giving medication.

In many cases, these errors result from a combination of human oversight, systemic issues, and inadequate safety procedures. Find out more about the different types of medication errors in nursing homes.

Dose Mistakes

Dose mistakes involve giving too much or too little of a prescribed medication. These errors can stem from misreading prescription instructions, miscalculating doses, or failing to adjust medications for a resident’s changing needs.

In April 2025, a nurse at the Minnesota Veterans Home gave a resident 20 times his prescribed dose of morphine, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. The resident passed away a few hours later.

Even small deviations in dosing can have serious consequences. Giving too much of a medication may cause breathing problems, organ damage, or other severe side effects, while giving too little may leave a resident’s condition untreated, resulting in preventable complications.

Expired Medications

Expired medications can lose potency, become unstable, or break down into potentially harmful compounds. In nursing homes, residents often rely on precise dosing to manage chronic conditions — but expired drugs may fail to treat an illness or cause unexpected side effects.

CMS and state regulators expect facilities to properly store, track, and dispose of expired medications. Not doing so may signal broader breakdowns in medication management.

Failure to Monitor or Act on Side Effects

After administering a medication, staff must monitor residents for adverse reactions. Ignoring early signs like dizziness, confusion, bleeding, or other unexpected effects can allow minor issues to become serious medical emergencies.

Monitoring is critical, particularly for high-risk medications like anticoagulants, opioids, and sedatives, where side effects can escalate quickly if not addressed.

Incorrect Medications

Residents may be given the wrong medication, whether it’s someone else’s prescription or the incorrect drug due to confusion over medication names, labeling, or look‑alike packaging.

Drug mixups often occur because systems rely too heavily on memory rather than on consistent verification protocols, like scanning barcodes, confirming a resident’s name on their wristband, or double‑checking chart orders.

Missed or Omitted Medications

Missed medications happen when a resident’s scheduled dose is forgotten or skipped entirely. These errors are common in nursing homes, especially during busy medication rounds or staff shortages.

Omitting a dose can leave chronic conditions untreated, like high blood pressure, diabetes, or infections, which may lead to preventable complications, hospitalizations, or worsening health outcomes.

Unsafe Drug Combinations

Residents in nursing homes often take multiple medications, which can interact in dangerous ways if not carefully coordinated. Unsafe drug combinations occur when medications are prescribed or administered without considering interactions with other drugs the resident is taking.

“Recent studies have shown that adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are common among nursing home residents, and frequently go unrecognized or the symptoms attributed to another condition. Many ADRs are due to drug-drug interactions.”
– Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association (PALTmed)

These interactions can cause severe side effects, hospitalizations, or even death, making careful review of each resident’s medication regimen essential.

Wrong Timing

Giving medications at the wrong time — like too early, too late, or too close to another dose — can reduce effectiveness or increase the risk of certain reactions.

Timing is especially critical for medications like insulin, anticoagulants, or antibiotics that need consistent intervals to be safe and effective.

In some cases, small timing errors can disrupt treatment, cause side effects, or exacerbate existing conditions, making it important to carefully schedule and adhere to medication plans.

Legal Options for Families After Medication Errors in Nursing Homes

When medication errors in nursing homes cause harm, families have the right to seek accountability. These errors are often preventable, and facilities can be held responsible when they fail to follow safe medication practices.

Taking action not only helps your loved one — it can also prevent the same errors from happening to other residents.

At Sokolove Law, our nursing home medication errors attorneys can:

• Provide a free case review to determine whether a preventable medication mistake caused your loved one harm
• Gather medical records, facility logs, witness statements, and other evidence to show what went wrong
• File a nursing home medication error lawsuit before any legal deadlines
• Negotiate a nursing home medication error settlement with the facility

At Sokolove Law, our nursing home abuse lawyers have recovered over $318 Million for families nationwide. Our firm works on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront and nothing at all unless we recover money for you.

Common Causes of Medication Errors in Nursing Homes

Medication mistakes in nursing homes often stem from a combination of human error, poor communication, and facility-wide system failures.

Understanding these common causes can help families recognize warning signs and advocate for safer care.

Causes of medication errors in care homes include:

• Communication breakdowns: Misread orders, transcription mistakes, and poor coordination between doctors, nurses, and pharmacists can lead to incorrect or missed medications.
• Inadequate staffing: Overworked or inexperienced staff, high turnover, and chronic understaffing increase the likelihood of rushed medication administration and preventable mistakes.
• Insufficient training or supervision: Staff may not receive adequate education on high-risk medications or may fail to follow established safety protocols.
• Poor medication management systems: Outdated charts, handwritten notes, missing documentation, or unreliable electronic systems make it easy for errors to go unnoticed.
• Resident transfer errors: When residents move between hospitals, rehab centers, and nursing homes, omissions or duplications in medication lists are common. Up to 31% of transfer-related medication plans contain errors, according to The American Journal of Managed Care^®.

No matter the reason behind a medication error — whether it stems from a busy staff member or deeper issues within the facility — these mistakes pose serious risks to vulnerable residents. Families deserve answers and accountability when they occur.

Warning Signs of Medication Errors in Nursing Homes

When you’re caring for or visiting a loved one in a nursing home, it’s important to stay alert for signs that something may be wrong with their medications. While every resident responds differently, the following red flags are commonly associated with medication mistakes.

Warning signs of medication errors in nursing homes include:

• Changes in mood or behavior
• Fluctuating vitals, like blood pressure and heart rate
• Sudden dizziness, confusion, nausea, or bleeding
• Unexplained drowsiness or delirium

It’s also important to monitor how medications are handled. Missing pills, incorrect pill counts, or unexplained changes to a care plan can signal deeper problems with medication management.

If you suspect a medication error, don’t ignore your concerns. Ask questions, document what you observe, and speak with nursing home staff or a trusted medical professional to get the help your loved one needs.

How a Nursing Home Medication Error Lawyer Can Help

A nursing home medication error lawyer can investigate what happened, protect your family’s rights, and pursue the compensation you may be entitled to. At Sokolove Law, we work to hold negligent facilities accountable and help families get answers.

A nursing home attorney may be able to help by:

• Assessing damages like medical bills, hospitalization costs, long-term care needs, pain and suffering, or wrongful death
• Communicating with the facility and insurers so your family doesn’t have to handle difficult conversations alone
• Consulting medical and pharmacology experts to explain how the error happened and how it caused harm
• Evaluating the facility’s conduct, including ignored physician orders, wrong dosages, or unsafe medication handling practices
• Proving negligence and showing the connection between the facility’s actions and your loved one’s injuries

Medication mistakes in nursing homes are never acceptable — and families shouldn’t be left to deal with the consequences alone. If you believe a loved one was harmed by a medication error, contact Sokolove Law now for a free case review.

How Much Do Nursing Home Medication Error Attorneys Cost?

At Sokolove Law, there are no upfront costs or hourly fees to work with our nursing home medication error attorneys. We operate on a contingency-fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we secure compensation on your behalf.

This approach allows families to take legal action with the help of an experienced medication error attorney without facing any financial risk.

Nursing Home Medication Error Settlements & Verdicts

Our firm has secured over $318 Million for victims of nursing home abuse and neglect, including those harmed by medication errors.

Compensation from a nursing home lawsuit can help cover medical bills, funeral costs, and other expenses while providing some measure of justice for families affected by preventable medication errors in a care facility.

Nursing home medication error settlements and verdicts include:

• $6 Million for the family of an Arizona woman who died from a morphine overdose at Manor Care
• $1.93 Million to the children of a woman in Ohio who suffered a fatal hypoglycemic event after reportedly being given the wrong medication
• $400,000 for the wife of a South Carolina man who passed away after receiving his weekly medication dose daily
• $1.4 Million on behalf of a nursing home resident in Utah who passed away after he was given a medication not prescribed to him
• $4.1 Million to the family of an Illinois woman who wasn’t given her blood thinner medication for 14 days while at Clare Oaks and suffered a stroke

While there’s never a guarantee of compensation in any case, our nursing home medication error lawyers can fight for everything you’re entitled to.

Nursing Home Medication Error Case Examples

Medication mistakes are one of the most dangerous and preventable issues in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. When staff fail to follow physician orders, mix up residents’ medications, or ignore basic safety checks, patients can suffer serious harm.

The cases below show how medication errors in nursing homes happen, what they can lead to, and why families often turn to attorneys for help.

Iowa Nursing Home Medication Error Leads to $13,000 Fine

In July 2025, Heritage Specialty Care in Cedar Rapids, Iowa was fined $13,000 after an elderly resident was mistakenly given 12 medications intended for someone else, leading to lethargy, confusion, dangerously low oxygen levels, and a 4-day hospitalization.

The mistake forced the resident into the intensive care unit for treatment of what inspectors classified as “medication-type poisoning.”

The on-duty nurse was responsible for giving medications to 13 residents that day and was the only nurse on duty, aided by a single nursing assistant, according to inspection records.

Indiana Nursing Home Medication Error Ends in Fatality

In June 2025, an 85-year-old veteran with dementia and diabetes fell into a fatal coma less than 48 hours after entering The Waters of Clifty Falls nursing home in Madison, Indiana, where his family believes he received a fatal insulin overdose.

Instead of the prescribed 5 units of insulin at bedtime, staff allegedly gave Carroll Perkins 70 units — 14 times the correct dose. The overdose triggered severe hypoglycemia, leading to a coma, brain damage, and wrongful death.

“I don’t want this to happen to somebody else. You shouldn’t lose your parent, your loved one, even if it’s a friend, you shouldn’t lose it to the mistakes that were made there. Daddy should still be here with us.”
– Cindy Lawson, Daughter of Nursing Home Medication Error Victim

Illinois Nursing Home Medication Error Wrongful Death Lawsuit

In October 2024, at Goldwater Care in Gibson City, Illinois, a resident died after receiving the wrong dose of a blood-thinning medication for 24 days, despite orders to stop the drug and restart it at a lower dose.

Instead of following those instructions, staff kept giving the resident the higher dose, causing severe internal bleeding, which led to their death, according to a Department of Health citation.

The resident’s family sought help from a lawyer for medication errors in Illinois nursing homes and is pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit.

Washington, D.C. Nursing Home Medication Error Leads to Coma

In December 2022, a 74-year-old woman at Capitol City Rehab in Washington, D.C. was mistakenly given another resident’s medication, including a drug she was severely allergic to, sending her into a coma for more than a week.

Federal inspection records show this was not an isolated mistake. The facility had been cited for prior failures in 2020 and 2021, including instances where prescribed medications were not administered.

New York Nursing Home Medication Error Causes Heart Attack, Kidney Failure

In January 2022, at Bishop Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Syracuse, New York, a resident suffered a heart attack and kidney failure after being sent home with another patient’s medications and taking them for 7 days, according to state inspectors.

Inspectors cited the nursing home for “actual harm,” showing the severe consequences of providing the wrong medications at discharge.

$1.4 Million Utah Nursing Home Medication Error Verdict

In 2018, the Utah Court of Appeals ruled that Provo Rehabilitation and Nursing must pay $1.4 Million to the family of Jack Adams, who died after a nurse gave him the wrong medication and then hid her mistake.

A jury had originally ordered the facility to pay $910,000, finding the nurse’s concealment was outside the scope of her employment. But the appeals court said the nursing home is responsible for the nurse’s knowledge and actions, even those she didn’t report.

If you suspect that a loved one was harmed by a medication mistake, it’s important to document what happened and seek help right away. A nursing home medication error lawyer may be able to pursue justice and hold the facility accountable.

Nursing Home Medication Regulations

Nursing homes are required to follow strict federal and state regulations designed to protect residents from medication errors. These rules govern how medications are prescribed, stored, administered, documented, and monitored.

Facilities that participate in Medicare or Medicaid must comply with standards set by CMS, which emphasize resident safety, proper clinical oversight, and prompt reporting of adverse events.

Medication regulations are intended to reduce preventable harm by ensuring residents receive the right medication, in the right dose, at the right time, and in the right way. When nursing homes fail to meet these standards, serious medication errors may occur.

Who Is Responsible for Preventing Medication Errors in Nursing Homes?

Preventing medication errors in nursing homes is a shared responsibility that spans every level of care — from the doctors who write prescriptions to the staff who administer them and the administrators who ensure safe systems are in place.

Ensuring safe medication practices requires coordinated efforts by:

• Prescribing physicians and primary care doctors: They must write clear, evidence-based orders, consider drug interactions, adjust for kidney and liver function, and review medication regimens.
• Nursing home staff: Nurses, nurse assistants, and med techs must follow protocols, double-check medications before administering, monitor side effects, and maintain accurate records.
• Facility administration: The management team sets staffing levels, creates reporting systems, invests in safety, and oversees quality improvement.

Nursing homes have a legal and ethical duty to manage medications safely. When that duty is breached and a resident is harmed, families have the right to pursue legal action to seek accountability, justice, and compensation.

How to Prevent Medication Errors in Nursing Homes

By staying engaged in a loved one’s care and remaining actively involved, families may be able to reduce the risk of nursing home medication errors or help ensure problems are identified sooner.

You can help reduce the risk of medication errors in nursing homes by:

• Asking what each medication is for, how often it should be given, and what side effects to watch for
• Keeping a written list of all prescribed medications, dosages, and changes
• Notifying staff immediately if something seems off or a dose appears to have been missed or duplicated
• Reporting suspected medication errors to facility administrators or state oversight agencies
• Requesting clarification when medications change or new drugs are added
• Staying involved in care plan meetings and regularly communicating with nursing home staff
• Watching for any sudden health changes

If a medication error does occur, taking action can help protect your loved one and may prevent the same mistake from harming other residents.

What to Do If You Suspect a Medication Error

If you think your loved one may have received the wrong medication or dose, taking swift action can help protect their safety and strengthen any future legal claims.

Here are steps to take if you suspect a medication error:

• Ask for a review of Medication Administration Records (MARs) to verify what was given and when
• Confirm the resident’s current prescription list with their primary doctor or specialist
• Document everything, including symptoms, dates, staff names, and unusual events
• Follow up with oversight agencies such as your state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Adult Protective Services (APS), or the state health department
• Request a meeting with the charge nurse or administrator to address concerns and seek immediate corrective action
• Speak with a nursing home medication errors lawyer who can seek justice for the harm suffered

If you believe your loved one was harmed by a medication mistake, Sokolove Law may be able to help. We can investigate the error, explain your legal options, and work to pursue justice and compensation for your family.

Why Medication Errors in Long-Term Care Are Especially Dangerous

Older adults in nursing homes are particularly vulnerable to the effects of medication mistakes. Many residents take several medications each day, have chronic health conditions, or depend on staff to recognize when something is wrong.

Even a small error like a missed dose or an incorrect strength can trigger a serious medical emergency or worsen existing conditions.

Factors that can increase the danger of medication errors for seniors include:

• Age-related changes in the body: Declines in kidney and liver function can make it harder to process medications, increasing the risk of toxicity or overdose.
• Chronic medical conditions: Heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and other conditions make it more dangerous when medications aren’t administered properly.
• Communication or cognitive limitations: Residents may be unable to report symptoms, recognize side effects, or advocate for themselves.
• Fragile overall health: Minor mistakes that might be manageable for younger adults, like a delayed medication, can be life-threatening for older adults.
• Multiple medications (polypharmacy): Many residents take multiple drugs, raising the likelihood of harmful interactions or side effects.

Because of these vulnerabilities, facilities must follow strict nursing home medication regulations. When they don’t, residents can face preventable harm ranging from confusion and nursing home falls to hospitalization or even wrongful death.

Find a Nursing Home Medication Errors Attorney Near You

No family should have to figure out a medication error on their own. When something goes wrong in a nursing home, Sokolove Law can step in to help you make sense of what happened and what you can do next.

Our team has years of experience investigating medication mistakes, identifying where facilities failed, and pursuing accountability for the harm suffered.

Our nursing home law firm:

• Can help families in all 50 states
• Doesn't charge any upfront costs or hourly fees
• Has secured over $318 Million total for victims of abuse or neglect at care facilities

Your loved one deserves protection, respect, and quality care — and we’re here to help you fight for that.

Call (800) 995-1212 right now or fill out our contact form to take the first step toward justice.

Nursing Home Medication Error FAQs