Elopement Can Put Nursing Home Residents at Great Risk

This type of nursing home neglect is called elopement and can have very serious consequences.

A report by Briggs Corporation reported that in lawsuits involving nursing homes, 10 percent have to do with elopement. Sadly, it is a problem that often repeats itself. In 80 percent of these cases the resident has been found wandering previously. Also alarming is the fact that in 45 percent of the cases the resident had only been admitted to the facility within 48 hours prior to the elopement incident. This form of elderly abuse has been known to have outcomes such as over-exposure to heat or cold, being struck by a vehicle, drowning, physical or sexual abuse for the resident.

There are some strategies that should be employed in nursing homes to help prevent residents from wandering:

• The first step is to develop a risk assessment, determining which residents are most likely to wander based on their mental, physical, psychological and emotional state.
• The facility should also determine whether or not it can provide the level of care that each resident requires.
• Residents need to be reassessed at regular intervals or when changes in their health occur.
• Staff must also ensure that the surroundings are assessed for each patient and that everyone is aware of residents' specific needs and level of care.
• Accurate records of wandering must be kept and security and alarm systems maintained.

RepertoireMag suggests that wandering and elopement are fairly common among nursing home residents, stating that about 50 percent have some level of dementia (most often linked to wandering) and 11 to 24 percent of Alzheimer's patients are wanderers.

Most nursing home facilities provide a caring and safe environment for residents. Unfortunately, there are some facilities where nursing home neglect or elder neglect occurs. If you have a loved one who has been harmed in a nursing home neglect situation it is in your best interest to consult with an experienced attorney. We deal with these kinds of cases on a regular basis and would be happy to apply that knowledge and background to your case. Just take a moment to fill in our form and we will provide you with a free assessment.