Families expect quality care and supervision when they place loved ones in a nursing home. Consistent monitoring of residents is an essential part of this quality care. This is especially important because many residents suffer from some form of cognitive impairment and require constant supervision. In fact, a recent study showed that 31% of nursing home residents are found wandering at least once. Worse yet, some elders “elope” or make it outside the nursing home.
Wandering occurs when a cognitively impaired resident moves around the facility without supervision. Under these circumstances, residents can suffer injuries, including falls, or wander into dangerous areas. Proper supervision can eliminate wandering entirely, but, too many nursing homes fail to develop a care plan that prevents wandering.
Similarly, elopement occurs when a cognitively impaired resident leaves the nursing home without supervision. Like wandering, elopement is most common among patients with dementia or some other cognitive impairment. Elopement can result in a resident being hit by a car, disappearing for an extended period, or even death. Luckily, elopement is also preventable so long as the nursing home provides the care and supervision it promised.
If your loved one has suffered an injury while wandering within their nursing home or outside the facility, we encourage you to contact our nursing home negligence and abuse law firm.
Nursing home abuse and negligence claims involve many complex legal and medical issues. Having the right attorney is essential to recovering what you deserve. Our Midwest nursing home abuse law firm will do everything possible to assist you in obtaining the maximum compensation possible. More importantly, our firm will serve as an ally that will give you and your family the respect and compassion it needs. Contact us to protect your family today.