What is the Difference Between Elopement and Wandering in Ohio Nursing Homes?
To provide the best care and ensure the safety of nursing home and assisted living residents, it’s important to understand their behaviors, particularly for those with cognitive conditions like dementia. Two key terms you’ll often hear are “wandering” and “elopement.” While they may sound alike, each has its own unique meaning and impact on both the residents and the care facilities looking after them.
Why is This Such an Important Topic?
Studies show that wandering occurs in about 65% of nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s. Elopement, often linked to persistent wandering, happens in roughly 80% of cases, with many incidents occurring within the first 48 hours of admission. While each individual’s behavior can vary, understanding the triggers, patterns, and causes of wandering and elopement is crucial for creating a safe, supportive environment.
Learn more: Wandering Nursing Home Residents in Ohio – How Could This Happen?
Wandering vs. Elopement: What’s the Difference?
Wandering refers to residents moving around within the nursing home or assisted living facility without a clear purpose or direction. Wandering can take two kinds of forms, either:
- Non-goal-directed wandering: The individual moves aimlessly, sometimes pacing or shifting from place to place with no clear objective.
- Goal-directed wandering: The person appears to be searching for something, such as an exit, a familiar room, or a past location.
While wandering happens within the facility, it still poses risks, such as falls, entering unsafe areas, or becoming disoriented.
Elopement, on the other hand, is when a resident manages to leave the facility without supervision or permission. This situation is particularly concerning, as individuals with cognitive impairments may not be aware of potential dangers around them. This leaves them vulnerable to accidents, harsh weather, traffic risks, or even exploitation.
Why Does This Happen?
Nursing home wandering and elopement are often linked to memory loss conditions like Alzheimer’s or dementia. Confusion, anxiety, agitation, or a desire to “go home” can lead residents to roam. These behaviors are more likely to occur in spaces such as bathrooms, hallways, and dining rooms (outside of mealtimes). If a facility lacks proper security measures or enough trained staff to monitor residents, these behaviors can escalate into serious incidents.
Legal Responsibilities of Nursing Homes
Nursing homes are legally responsible for ensuring the safety of their residents, plain and simple. This means they must put in place proper measures to prevent both wandering and elopement. When a facility doesn’t take reasonable precautions, like securing exits, providing sufficient supervision, or using monitoring technology, it may be deemed negligent if a resident is harmed as a result.
Elopement is considered a “never event” by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which means it should never occur in a well-managed nursing home. When a facility fails in this duty, the consequences can be severe, including fines, citations, or even legal action from families who are rightfully seeking justice for their loved ones.
Prevention Strategies
To reduce the risk of wandering and elopement in nursing homes, facilities should implement:
- Comprehensive Staff Training: Employees should be trained to recognize the warning signs of wandering and understand how to intervene before a resident elopes.
- Secure Environments: Alarmed doors, keypad entries, and enclosed outdoor areas can help prevent elopement while still allowing safe movement.
- Resident Monitoring: Using wearable tracking devices or sensors can help staff track residents who are at high risk.
- Structured Activities: Engaging residents with structured daily routines can reduce restlessness and the urge to wander.
What to Do If a Loved One Wanders or Elopes
If your loved one has wandered within a nursing home or has eloped, it’s important to act quickly:
- Ensure immediate medical attention if needed.
- Ask what measures they are taking to prevent future occurrences.
- Document the situation and speak with an elder care advocate or attorney if negligence is suspected.
Families trust nursing homes to provide a secure environment for their loved ones. If a facility fails in this duty, it’s important to hold them accountable.
As a Nursing Home Wandering Lawyer and Elopement (Assisted Living Escape) Attorney, I Seek Answers, Compensation, and Justice on Behalf Injured Residents and Their Families.
If your loved one has wandered or escaped from a nursing home in Ohio, you deserve answers and justice. As a nursing home negligence lawyer and abuse attorney specializing in wrongful death and injuries, I’ve made it my life’s work to advocate for those who have been harmed.
I am available to serve clients throughout Ohio, including Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, and Dayton. If you are concerned about the care your loved one has received, reach out to my office today for a free consultation. I’m here to listen, help you understand your options, and guide you through holding negligent facilities accountable. Your family’s peace of mind is too important to wait—contact me today to discuss your case.
