A staggering 12 million people in the United States are expected to need long-term care, in a nursing home or assisted living facility by 2020 (read the full Morning Star report here). It is a difficult decision to have to put a loved one in a nursing home and choosing the right one can be an arduous task, read our previous article about choosing a nursing home here. Most people have seen the reports about nursing home neglect, and yet that amount continues to grow as well. Wandering off and elopement are two of the most common forms of neglect in residents of nursing home facilities.

What Is Wandering?

Wandering by definition, is when a mentally impaired person can move about within the facility unsupervised and risks being hurt by something within the nursing home, such as a fall, entering a room where there are safety issues, or any other form of harm. Elopement in the case of nursing home care is considered residents who are incapable of protecting themselves from harm, slip away and leave the facility unsupervised and unnoticed. As the rates of dementia in patients grow, (it is estimated that 42% of individuals in nursing homes experience some form of dementia), these safety issues will continue if the systems that are supposed to protect them do not change.

Up to 60% of people with dementia will wander at least once. Many cases of wandering go unreported. Wandering and elopement issues are expected to rise rapidly, as baby boomers begin to age and life expectancy rates also go up. The probability of a loved one with dementia will also rise. Wandering and elopement are considered neglect and can be cause for litigation. Families need to take an active role in the care of their loved ones; to ensure that wandering and especially elopement do not happens. Wandering and elopement can result in serious injury and even death.

The staff at nursing homes also needs to play a more active role in patient care, by performing risk assessments to residents, installing alarms on all doors, using locking systems, and the use of patient tracking devices that are bracelets to alert staff when a resident leaves the facility. Other safety measures can be implemented as well. If the staff fail to implement practices that address the issue, residents are faced with the dangers of falling, exposure to harmful elements (both inside and outside), and in some cases death. Many times the circumstances surrounding wandering and elopement occur because of being understaffed and a lack of proper training.

Elopement Is Neglect, Take Action Accordingly

When you place a loved one in the care of a nursing home, you expect that their needs will be met and that they will receive the proper care and supervision. If you know or suspect that a loved one suffered injuries because of negligence, it is important to take action early to protect your rights. A lawsuit may be filed by family members on their behalf. Injuries or sudden death could occur due to the nursing home staff’s negligence. Nursing home staff can face civil and criminal charges in neglect cases, but laws vary state to state. Contacting a local law firm to investigate and advise you of your rights in nursing home neglect and abuse cases will help you understand your rights and the rights of your loved one.