When Can Wandering and Elopement Lead to Nursing Home Injuries?

 Posted on August 07, 2023 in Neglect

As loved ones reach their later years, many families face the difficult decision of entrusting their care to a nursing home facility. These facilities are meant to provide a safe and secure environment for aging family members, ensuring that they receive the proper medical care, supervision, and assistance with their daily needs. Unfortunately, there are a variety of reasons why nursing home patients may be injured. In some cases, incidents of wandering and elopement can lead to dangerous situations that may cause an elderly person to suffer serious harm.

The Dangers of Wandering and Elopement

Wandering refers to patients who roam around unsafely and without proper supervision within the confines of a nursing home facility. This behavior can pose significant risks, as patients may get lost, trip over hazards, or become involved in altercations with other residents. On the other hand, elopement occurs when a resident leaves the facility unnoticed or without authorization.

Elderly individuals suffering from cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia are most at risk for wandering and elopement. These conditions can affect a person’s memory and judgment, leading them to wander aimlessly or attempt to return to familiar places from their past. A person who is confused about their surroundings will be at a much higher risk of being injured if they are allowed to wander within a nursing home or leave a facility unsupervised.

Potential Causes of Wandering and Elopement Incidents

There are several factors that can contribute to instances of wandering and elopement:

• Lack of staffing: Understaffed facilities often struggle with providing adequate supervision for residents, making it easier for them to wander or elope.

• Inadequate training: Insufficiently trained staff members may not recognize the signs of wandering behaviors, or they may fail to take the necessary precautions to ensure that residents are safe.

• Faulty security measures: Nursing homes must have proper security systems in place to prevent residents from leaving a facility or entering unsafe areas. Broken locks, malfunctioning alarms, and unsecured exits can all contribute to elopement incidents.

• Failure to assess risks: Nursing homes should conduct thorough assessments of each resident's individual needs and implement appropriate care plans tailored to their risk factors for wandering or elopement. Failure to do so may put residents at risk of being injured.

Pursuing Legal Action to Address Wandering and Elopement Injuries

If your loved one has suffered injuries due to nursing home negligence related to wandering or elopement, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim. It is vital that you consult with an experienced nursing home injury attorney who can evaluate your case and guide you through the legal process.

A successful personal injury claim against a nursing home will typically require demonstrating:

• The existence of a duty of care owed by the facility toward its residents

• A breach of the duty of care due to neglect or inadequate supervision

• Injuries and damages that occurred as a direct result of the nursing home’s breach of the duty of care

Contact Our Cook County Nursing Home Wandering and Elopement Attorneys

If you suspect that your loved one has been injured after nursing home staff members failed to take steps to prevent wandering or elopement, you will want to determine your legal options. The dedicated team at Schwartz Injury Law can help you pursue justice for the injuries your loved one has suffered due to nursing home negligence. With our compassionate approach and extensive experience handling these complex cases, we can help you take the necessary steps to hold a negligent nursing home responsible for its failure to provide the proper care and supervision. Contact our Chicago nursing home injury lawyers today at 312-535-4625 for a free consultation. 

Sources:

https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/altc/articles/wandering-and-elopement-nursing-homes

https://www.agingcare.com/articles/help-a-senior-with-dementia-who-wanders-167541.htm