Nursing homes and assisted living facilities provide medical care and services to residents who cannot care for themselves. Due to declining mental abilities, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other mental health issues, some nursing home residents may wander within the confines of the facility, or even try to leave the facility altogether. Nursing facilities have a duty to recognize these risks and keep these residents safe.

Failure to monitor a resident in a nursing home or assisted living facility can have disastrous, even deadly consequences. When nursing homes and assisted living facilities fail to meet applicable standards of care and a resident is injured, the facility may be liable for nursing home neglect.

If you placed a loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility and they were injured or killed, the nursing home neglect lawyers at Muth Law, P.C., can help.

We offer free and confidential consultations to help you assess whether the facility was guilty of neglecting your loved one. Because we handle nursing home neglect cases on a contingency fee, you will not owe us a legal fee unless we recover funds for you and your family.

What Is Wandering and Elopement?

“Wandering” and “elopement” refer to situations in which a resident leaves a facility or part of the facility without notice or permission. It often happens when a resident is confused or lacks awareness for their personal safety. When residents with physical or cognitive impairments leave a facility on their own, they are at risk of being harmed.

Because many residents of nursing homes or assisted living facilities experience declining mental abilities, whether due to Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, a sleep disorder, stress, changes in medication, or another mental health issue, they need additional supervision and an escort when they leave the facility.

What Is the Difference Between Wandering and Elopement?

Elopement occurs when a resident leaves the facility altogether.

Wandering is when a resident leaves a safe area within the facility, such as walking excessively or wandering away from their room or a specific floor.

If unsupervised, wandering can lead to elopement. Unsupervised or excessive wandering and elopement should be managed. If it is not properly managed by nursing staff, it is nursing home neglect.

How Common Is Wandering and Elopement?

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, wandering and elopement are quite common for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. As many as six in ten people with Alzheimer’s disease will wander and become lost. This number includes people in their home environment as well as people in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. The statistic declines to just over 30% of people in nursing homes.

Nonetheless, a single episode of elopement can have deadly consequences. There is a 25% mortality rate for residents who are not found within 24 hours, and the odds of survival decrease with every hour that passes.

What Are the Risks of Elopement?

Residents who wander or elope are at risk of injuries due to dehydration, exposure to harsh weather, drowning, medical complications, or being struck by a vehicle.

How Do Nursing Homes Prevent Residents from Eloping?

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities should take a two-pronged approach to prevent patient elopement. First, they must evaluate every resident to determine whether they are at risk of elopement and update that assessment as the resident’s condition changes. Second, the facility must have measures in place to prevent elopement. This means having adequate staff in place to properly supervise residents, installing locks and alarms on doors and windows, using keypads and alarms on doors, and installing cameras that are monitored and track residents movements. Facilities should also use bracelets to identify residents at risk of elopement and install fencing around the facility.

A nursing home or assisted living facility should also have a clear policy on how to respond if a resident does get outside of the facility.

When is a Nursing Home Liable for Injuries Due to Wandering or Elopement?

Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are required to regularly assess and monitor each resident’s health condition, including their behavior, medications, and mental and physical condition. The facility must assess whether the resident is at risk of elopement and put protections in place to prevent it from happening.

Failure to identify and prevent elopement or wandering is a form of nursing home neglect, especially when it leads to harm to the resident.

How to Hold a Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility Liable for Elopement

If your loved one was injured or killed because they were not properly monitored, you may have a claim against the facility for nursing home neglect. At Muth Law, our nursing home neglect lawyers can investigate the facility and its safety protocols and procedures, analyze the strength of your case, and explain your options to move forward.

Contact a Nursing Home Neglect Lawyer at Muth Law Today

Muth Law works with clients in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, and throughout Michigan. Please contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation regarding your nursing home negligence matter by phone at 734-481-8800 or via e-mail. We look forward to serving your family.