Elopement - What Can A Nursing Home Facility Do To Prevent Residents From Wandering?
Elopement, it is not just for teenagers. According to Merriam-Webster Online, in addition to running away to get married, the word "elopement" means: "to slip away." When nursing home or assisted living facility residents "slip away" it often has serious consequences. There are both "simple" and highly technical methods which a facility can employ to ensure your loved one is safe and secure in the facility chosen to care for them.
Recently, Illinois attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld, an Illinois attorney specializing in nursing home abuse litigation, was interviewed for an article concerning elopement. Jonathan was good enough to blog about his interview, providing seven key preventative measures to prevent "wandering." According to Jonathan, nursing homes which care for residents prone to wander or "elope" should employ the following safeguards:
- Door alarms
- Window locks
- Door locks
- Bracelets that track each resident's location
- Hire adequate staff to look after residents
- Have contingent plan in case a resident does wander from the facility
Although of these safeguards are important, in my view, the requirement of a contingent plan is critical. The saying goes "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," however, even with all the "prevention" in the world, some times a "cure" is required. If your loved one is in a nursing home, and wanders away, it is critical the staff has a plan in place to contact the appropriate authorities, conduct a search and notify you, the family.
If someone you love is a resident in a nursing home, ask what safeguards they have in place for preventing elopement. Make sure they have appropriate safeguards in place as well as a plan in place to quickly and efficiently locate any resident who wanders away from the facility. If the nursing home's safeguards or plan are inadequate, take the initiative and suggest ways the facility can improve its plan. Remember, the nursing home should welcome your input...after all, you have nothing but the best interests of your loved one and, by extension, the facility, in mind.
