I’m sorry to hear about your mother. Whether or not you can sue the nursing home depends on the circumstances of what happened. Wandering away from a nursing home (also known as elopement) is very common, especially among those who are cognitively impaired. If you believe your loved one was neglected by a nursing home, you should speak to an attorney.
There are roughly five million people in the U.S. with Alzheimer’s disease. There are many other cognitive diseases that can lead to wandering in addition to Alzheimer’s. About two-third of nursing home patients have some type of cognitive impairment such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. If a facility does not secure itself well, patients may wander outside and be unable to find their way back, which can lead to death or accidental injuries.
Nursing homes must take steps to keep patients from wandering. Patients must be identified as being at risk for wandering. The facilities should be properly staffed, so that there are enough people to keep an eye on patients and recognize when one is missing. Technology should be implemented that will alert staff members if a patient leaves their designated area. Also, if a patient does leave, family members should be informed immediately and the authorities notified.
If your loved one wandered away from a nursing home and was harmed as a result, you should speak with an attorney. Nursing homes are responsible for taking precautions to prevent patients from wandering. Call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles nursing home negligence attorney at 610-651-8272. My team can help.