Getting people to stay in a nursing home isn’t always an easy task. Some older adults truly hate living in nursing homes. They might spend weeks planning an escape because they don’t accept that they need daily support.
Others may have experienced cognitive decline that leaves them unaware of their circumstances. Adults with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other debilitating conditions could elope or wander off from a nursing home. Such scenarios can easily result in tragic consequences.
Why is elopement so dangerous?
People living in nursing homes typically have extensive support needs. They may require medication for their physical well-being. They may not be capable of protecting themselves or even meeting their basic needs.
Elopement can be dangerous because it cuts someone off from the support they require for health and safety. Elopement can also be dangerous because it exposes people to dangerous environments. Eloping in the evening might mean that a vulnerable adult is outside overnight when temperatures drop. They could end up stuck in a storm.
Other times, they could wander into a dangerous location, such as an outdoor space where they could fall down a hill or a building with which they are unfamiliar. Occasionally, they might even wander into traffic, which can have truly tragic consequences.
How can nursing homes prevent elopement?
It is not reasonable or appropriate for a nursing home to physically restrain or drug a resident to ensure their compliance. However, there are ways to identify those who are at risk of elopement and take steps to protect them.
For example, nursing homes can routinely evaluate the support needs of residents and increase the care they provide as necessary. Those struggling with cognitive decline may require transfer to a locked ward where residents cannot come and go without staff knowledge.
In scenarios wherein nursing home employees fail to identify those at risk of elopement, and/or fail to take steps to prevent them from endangering themselves, the situation may constitute actionable negligence. Pursuing a lawsuit when an aging loved one ends up hurt or worse because of negligent nursing home care can compensate the family for harm caused. Successful lawsuits can also inspire nursing homes to improve the standard of care that they provide.