Nursing Home Neglect: When Patients Go Missing
March 7, 2016Florida Nursing Home Attorney
Elderly people with dementia who wander away from nursing homes are at serious risk. The dangers include being injured in traffic, a trip and fall with injuries, or the elderly person becoming a victim of crime. Other consequences include illness or injury from exposure to the elements, dehydration, becoming lost, or the health consequences associated with missing doses of necessary medication. Contact Jodat Law Group to speak with an experienced Florida Nursing Home Attorney.
Many elderly nursing home residents suffer from dementia. According to a report in the Annals of Long-Term Care, cognitively-impaired people who wander are at high risk of injury. Nevertheless, an estimated 31% of nursing home residents wander at least once.
When patients go missing from nursing home facilities, it is known as “elopement.” This is so dangerous for residents that it has resulted in death in some cases. Elopement could be prevented if the nursing home facility would take the proper safety measures, and provide adequate supervision and security. Failing in this duty and allowing elopement to occur is a form of nursing home neglect and abuse.
In a recent inspection conducted on nursing homes, researchers turned up hundreds of cases of wandering and elopement and found 949 inspection reports that mentioned the term “elope.” Inspection reports for nursing homes are generated by both regularly scheduled inspections and inspections conducted in response to complaints.
Nursing Home Liability for Elopement
Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are subject to federal regulations associated with patient care. Facilities are required to have security and alarm systems to protect residents. It is the responsibility of the facility to properly train its employees on how to handle wandering residents, and to hire staff who are qualified to deal with these issues. When a nursing home fails in its responsibilities and elderly patients wander, they incur great risk to their health and safety, and in many cases, the nursing home can be held liable.
When nursing home negligence leads to the elopement of a resident, family members may be entitled to file a lawsuit on behalf of the injured resident. Negligence that caused the elopement may have occurred in a number of ways, including:
- Staff failed to properly categorize resident as to likelihood of elopement.
- Staff failed to adequately supervise resident.
- Staff failed to respond quickly enough to door alarms.
- Facility failed to provide sufficient staff.
- Facility failed to properly train employees.
Florida Nursing Home Attorney – Abuse and Neglect
If your elderly loved one has been permitted to wander or elope from a nursing home, contact one of our offices as soon as possible for a free consultation from a qualified Florida Nursing Home Attorney. Elopement is one of the most dangerous forms of neglect that occurs in nursing homes, and is often life-threatening for the resident.
If your loved one suffered injuries as a result of nursing home neglect, you may be entitled to file a claim for compensation on your elderly loved one’s behalf. Our knowledgeable nursing home neglect and abuse lawyers with Jodat Law Group can advise you of your options under the law, and inform you of the types of damages you may be entitled to claim. We are committed to protecting the rights of Florida nursing home residents and their families.