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Families expect their loved ones will be safe and supervised in long-term care facilities. However, elderly residents with dementia are at significant risk of wandering or “eloping,” which occurs when a resident leaves the property unsupervised. This is the case even in nursing homes with secure dementia units.
The attorneys at Kline & Specter, an award-winning firm, know that elopement can have dangerous consequences. Learn more about the risks of elopements from long-term care facilities below.
Why Are Dementia Patients at Risk?
Dementia progressively affects memory, reasoning, and spatial awareness.
Residents with dementia may become disoriented, confused, or attempt to “return home” even if they are no longer aware of their surroundings. This wandering behavior requires careful supervision and preventive strategies to keep them safe.
Unfortunately, if facilities fail to put the proper precautions in place, residents may elope unnoticed.
The Dangers of Elopement
When a resident with dementia wanders away, the risks are severe. Without supervision, they may:
- Experience falls or serious injuries
- Become exposed to extreme weather conditions
- Encounter traffic or unsafe terrain
- Suffer from dehydration, exhaustion, or other medical emergencies
Learning that your loved one has eloped can be both terrifying and heartbreaking. These incidents jeopardize the resident’s safety. They can also reveal potential negligence by the facility.
Is the Facility Liable?
Long-term care facilities and nursing homes have a legal obligation to protect their residents. This includes:
- Monitoring residents prone to wandering
- Implementing secure entry and exit systems
- Conducting regular safety checks
- Training staff to identify and address elopement risks
If a facility fails to meet these responsibilities and an elopement occurs, it may constitute negligence. Families have the right to seek justice and hold the nursing home accountable.
Contact Kline & Specter Today
At Kline & Specter, we have extensive experience in elder abuse and nursing home negligence cases. If your loved one with dementia has wandered away from a care facility, you may have grounds for a legal claim.
Protect your loved one and ensure accountability. Call Kline & Specter at 215-772-1000 or submit our online form.
Kline & Specter provides free and confidential evaluations of potential cases. We work with clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York. For cases outside those states, we work with local attorneys as applicable.