Elopement and wandering are related concepts.  Elopement refers to the resident’s ability to leave the facility unsupervised and unnoticed putting the resident’s safety in danger.  Wandering refers to aimless movement throughout the facility where the resident puts his safety at risk due to an inability to appreciate danger.

Elopement and wandering are risks which the nursing home must recognize and care plan in order to prevent.  The nursing home must provide each resident with the appropriate level of supervision to prevent elopement and wandering behavior.  Exit doors should be alarmed to prevent and notify staff when residents leave the facility unsupervised and the nursing home staff must know how to appropriately respond to alarms.  Failure to do prevent elopement and wandering puts residents at risk for falls, exposure to harsh weather and other significant danger.

If you believe that a loved one may be the victim of nursing home neglect or abuse in the State of California, you should take action quickly and contact us online or call us at 916-851-5909 for a confidential and free nursing home case consultation.