Substance Abuse in Nursing Homes

If you have a family member living in a nursing home, you trust the facility’s staff to perform their best. However, there can be times when nursing home staff consume drugs or alcohol while working or let your family do so. This compromises the standard of care in a nursing home to the point where your loved one can become the victim of nursing home abuse and neglect.

Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC is a Tennessee law firm that wants to do everything we can to prevent substance abuse in nursing homes. If you suspect that your family member is under the care of nursing home staff who abuses drugs and alcohol or has been abusing illicit substances on their own, please let us know. At this point, a nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer may be able to help you move forward with a claim. 

A Closer Look at Substance Abuse in Nursing Homes

When a person engages in substance abuse, they repeatedly use drugs or alcohol. The drugs used in substance abuse can be accessed over the counter, through a prescription, or illegally. Meanwhile, a person may abuse alcohol that they purchase from a grocery or liquor store. 

In a nursing home, a staff member may arrive at work under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Or, they may use drugs or alcohol while they work. In either scenario, those under the care and supervision of this staff member may be in danger. 

There can be instances in which a senior living in a nursing home abuses sleeping pills, painkillers, or other drugs. This individual may do so even if they are under the care and supervision of nursing home staff. If this happens, the senior can suffer serious health problems or die. 

A Person Can Display Many Signs of Substance Abuse in a Nursing Home

You may see several physical signs that a person is abusing drugs or alcohol. These physical signs of substance abuse can include:   

• Sudden weight gain or loss
• Eyes appear bloodshot
• Slurred speech
• Lack of coordination
• Changes in sleep patterns

Along with these, a person who is abusing drugs or alcohol may abandon activities that they previously enjoyed and make other behavioral changes. This individual may also experience sudden mood changes and other psychological issues. In the worst-case scenario, the person who has been abusing drugs and alcohol can become a threat to themselves and others. 

At Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC, we want to help anyone affected by substance abuse in Tennessee nursing homes. If you want to file a lawsuit against a nursing home due to substance abuse issues, please reach out to us. We can connect you with our team of attorneys to help you with your case. 

What to Do If You Suspect Substance Abuse in a Nursing Home

In instances where you suspect a nursing home staff member is abusing drugs or alcohol, report the issue immediately. You can notify the nursing home’s management team about the issue. If you feel your family member living in the nursing home is in imminent danger, you can call 911. 

If you are concerned that your family member at a nursing home is abusing drugs or alcohol, share your concerns with the nursing home staff. You can also explore potential treatment options to help your loved one address a potential drug or alcohol addiction. If you feel the substance abuse is an emergency, you can call 911 as well. 

You should not let substance abuse at a nursing home continue since the problem is unlikely to disappear on its own. At the first sign of substance abuse that affects your family member who resides at a nursing home, report the problem. If nothing is done to address the issue, you can report it to authorities and partner with a nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer as needed. 

How Substance Abuse in a Nursing Home Can Lead to a Wrongful Death  

If substance abuse is ongoing in a nursing home, wrongful death can occur. A family member who lives at a nursing home can die under the care and supervision of a staff member who abuses drugs or alcohol. They can also die due to their own substance abuse at the nursing home. 

It can be difficult to prove that a family member died as a result of substance abuse at a nursing home. If you believe this was the case with your loved one, legal help is available. You can connect with a nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer, and they can help you find out if negligent nursing home staff were responsible for your loved one’s death. 

Your attorney can help you gather and review evidence and build a compelling case against a nursing home. They can provide you with legal tips and guidance as you pursue your wrongful death claim. If your attorney succeeds, they may be able to help you secure a large settlement. 

Why It Pays to File a Lawsuit If You Suspect Substance Abuse in a Nursing Home

If your family member lives in a nursing home, they deserve outstanding care and support. You may vet a nursing home and believe the facility’s staff operates with its residents’ needs top of mind. Regardless, substance abuse may be a problem at the nursing home, and it can impact the care and support that your loved one receives. 

For those who feel a nursing home abuse and neglect lawsuit is warranted, you can work with an attorney to pursue your claim. As you search for a lawyer, it is important to choose one that has a track record of success in nursing home abuse and neglect cases. This lawyer likely has received dozens of positive client testimonials, and these may illustrate how the attorney can help you achieve the optimal case result. 

Your attorney can help you file a lawsuit that holds a nursing home accountable for any substance abuse that occurs among its staff or residents. This can prompt changes within the nursing home. It may allow you to receive compensation based on any nursing home abuse and neglect that your loved one has suffered. 

Do Not Tolerate Substance Abuse in a Nursing Home Any Longer

The team at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC can help you with your nursing home abuse and neglect case. For more information or to request a free case evaluation, please contact us today.