Choosing a nursing home for your loved one is a deeply personal decision. You want a facility that meets their medical needs and ensures their safety and dignity. Unfortunately, incidents like nursing home elopement can put vulnerable residents at serious risk.
What is nursing home elopement?
Nursing home elopement occurs when a resident leaves the facility without the staff’s knowledge or authorization. This is particularly dangerous for people with cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. They may not understand the risks of wandering away from their safe environment.
Elopement can lead to severe consequences, including a recent tragedy due to exposure to harsh weather conditions, injuries from falls, getting lost or even traffic-related accidents. In these cases, the nursing home’s failure to provide adequate supervision or security may constitute neglect.
What are the signs of a safe nursing home?
Nursing home elopement is preventable. When evaluating nursing homes, there are several signs that may indicate the home is safe. If your loved one’s nursing home lacks these measures, they could potentially be held liable for elopement issues:
- Secure facility design: Look for features like secure doors, alarms, and surveillance cameras. Ensure that exits are monitored and equipped with systems to alert staff if a resident attempts to leave.
- Staffing levels and training: Adequate staff-to-resident ratios are critical for preventing elopement. Staff should also be trained to recognize early warning signs of wandering and intervene before a resident attempts to leave.
- Individualized care plans: Ask about the facility’s approach to creating care plans tailored to residents’ needs. Those with a history of wandering or cognitive impairments should have specific strategies in place to minimize elopement risks.
- Incident reporting and transparency: Inquire about the facility’s history of elopement incidents and how they address them. A facility that is transparent about past challenges and actively implements preventive measures demonstrates accountability.
- Activity programs: Finally, engaging activities can reduce restlessness and the desire to wander. Facilities that offer structured programs are less likely to have elopement incidents. A lack of activity programs doesn’t constitute neglect on its own, but it can provide context for an elopement incident.
What to do when elopement occurs
If your loved one experiences elopement, ensure that they receive medical care for any injuries or harm they may have suffered. Next, document the incident. Keep detailed records of what occurred, including dates, times and any communications with the facility.
Finally, call the Law Offices of Tim Misny. Elopement may indicate negligence or otherwise inadequate care. We can help you investigate the incident, and pursue legal action if appropriate.
Discuss your case with a Columbus nursing home abuse lawyer
The Law Offices of Tim Misny can review your nursing home elopement case. When you’re the victim of negligence or recklessness, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (877) 614-9524 so that I can evaluate your case right away.