Southern California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog
Nursing home negligence can take many different forms, and it is important for anyone with an elderly loved one in a Los Angeles County nursing home to know when a facility can be liable for a careless act or omission. Wandering and elopement are common issues among nursing home residents that raise questions about nursing home negligence. When an elderly nursing home resident wanders from an area that is safe, they can get hurt. In many cases, the nursing home can be liable for any harm that occurs because the facility has a duty to ensure that staff members properly monitor residents who may be likely to wander.
Our Los Angeles County nursing home negligence lawyers can tell you more about wandering and elopement, and we can help you understand whether a facility may be liable if your loved one suffered harm because of wandering or elopement.
What are Wandering and Elopement?
Wandering and elopement are both terms used to refer to situations in which a nursing home resident wanders out of their usual area and into a place they are not supposed to be. However, there is a distinction between the two terms.
According to US News & World Report, wandering generally means a situation where a nursing home resident wanders into an area within the nursing home where they are not supposed to be, such as into another resident’s private room. Elopement, differently, refers to a resident wandering away from the premises entirely. Data suggests that elopement results in death in approximately one-third of nursing home resident cases.
Common Risk Factors for Wandering and Elopement in Nursing Homes
While nursing homes can be liable for many different cases involving injuries arising out of wandering or elopement, it is particularly important to make sure that facilities are held accountable when a nursing home resident with known risk factors wanders or elopes. Nursing homes must recognize risk factors and take precautions to prevent harm due to wandering or elopement. According to US News & World Report, the following are common triggers for wandering and elopement that facilities must be aware of, particularly when they occur in residents with dementia:
- Indicating a desire to return home;
- Psychological or emotional stress;
- Physical pain;
- Forgetting an intended destination;
- Sleeplessness;
- Boredom;
- Unreleased energy;
- Being hungry; and
- Overuse or incorrect use of certain medications, especially for dementia patients.
As US News & World Report underscores, nursing home residents with various forms of dementia, and especially vascular dementia, often have “periods of self-awareness, at which times they become adamant that they should not be living in such a facility.” In these circumstances, wandering and elopement become notable risks.
Contact a Los Angeles County Nursing Home Negligence Attorney for Assistance
When an elderly nursing home resident wanders, or when elopement occurs, they can suffer serious injuries and harm. It is important to have a clear understanding of the facility’s obligations where your elderly loved one lives, and if the facility is negligent, to hold it accountable. As we discussed above, wandering and elopement are particularly common among nursing home residents with dementia, and facilities need to ensure that these residents have appropriate oversight to prevent accidents and injuries due to wandering or elopement. If you have questions or want to find out more about filing a claim, you should get in touch with one of our Los Angeles County nursing home negligence attorneys for assistance. Contact the Walton Law Firm today to learn more about how we can help you and your family.
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