Older adults who move into nursing homes often resent the restrictions that nursing homes place on their daily lives and the requirement to live in an unfamiliar location. Many older adults joke about leaving the facilities where they live, but even the most frustrated older adult generally recognizes that they require support for the administration of medication or with daily tasks, such as meal preparation and personal hygiene habits.
Occasionally, those who have experienced cognitive decline or who struggle with dementia might leave a nursing home without the permission or awareness of staff members. So-called elopement incidents can result in tragic outcomes.
What makes leaving a nursing home unattended so dangerous?
Many hazards may arise during elopement
One of the most serious concerns for older adults who leave a nursing home without permission or prior planning is the inability to access critical medical care. Whether they are on a drug to manage their blood pressure or in the middle of a course of antibiotics to treat a serious infection, they could develop medical complications due to the disruption of their treatment.
Then, there is the hazard of environmental exposure. Being out overnight can leave people vulnerable to unsafe ambient temperatures and potentially dangerous wildlife. If they leave a nursing home during a storm, inclement weather can present even more hazards that could lead to injury or illness.
There are also countless potential sources of traumatic injuries. Older adults who wander away from a nursing home could fall with no one around to help them up or address their injuries. They could wander into traffic and get struck by a vehicle or end up victimized by opportunistic criminals. Any of those scenarios could have devastating consequences for older adults.
Nursing homes can prevent elopement
Typically, nursing homes can prevent older adults from leaving the facility. Placing those dealing with dementia or cognitive decline in a locked ward can limit the likelihood of wandering incidents.
Routine bed checks and similar security measures can also significantly reduce the risk of an older adult leaving without anyone discovering their absence. The failure to document the decline in an older adult’s cognitive function, to follow bed check procedures or to keep secure wards locked appropriately could all be examples of negligent behavior that may have devastating implications.
Connecting an elopement incident to a facility’s failure to recognize support needs or conform to care standards could provide the grounds for a lawsuit. Families can take legal action to seek compensation for medical expenses and other costs generated by preventable elopement incidents.