Elopement, Dementia and Winter - A Fatal Combination
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A tragic story from Portland, Oregon, underlines the unspeakable consequences when a resident of an adult care home elopes from the facility. The resident, Mr. Koller, age 69, suffered from severe dementia.
According to the report, the care center's staff noticed he was missing and notified the authorities. Heartbreakingly, Mr. Koller was found dead in a backyard near the care facility. He was not dressed for the cold weather.
From my perspective, there is critical information missing from the report. For example, what was the elapsed time from when staff last saw Mr. Koller and when they noticed he was missing? How long after the facility knew Mr. Koller was missing before someone contacted the authorities for outside assistance. Finally, what precautions did the facility have in place to prevent such a tragedy.
A close eye needs to be kept on people who suffer from severe dementia. Adequate precautions need to be taken to prevent elopement by these folks. A facility should have the staff and resources to ensure all residents, including those who suffer from severe dementia, are kept safe.
If adequate steps are not taken, a fatal tragedy can occur.
