Nursing homes are designed to keep residents as safe and healthy as possible, particularly when they can’t care for themselves any longer. Residents and their loved ones expect the facility to supervise patients and ensure that their medical, social and other needs are met. When a nursing home fails to keep an eye on their patients, however, the consequences can be deadly.

Warrensville Heights nursing home elopement

An 84-year-old woman died in late December after being found unresponsive outside the Avenue Warrensville Care and Rehabilitation Center in Warrensville Heights, Ohio. The woman, who was in a wheelchair and unable to walk, went missing from her room the night before—but was not reported missing until hours later by a new nurse. A facility-wide search was initiated, and police were called. The woman was eventually discovered unresponsive on the patio and later died at the hospital. Security footage did not capture her movements, and no arrests have been made as the investigation continues.

This case is a tragic example of nursing home elopement, where a resident is able to leave the facility without supervision. Nursing home elopement is a serious safety concern, particularly for residents with conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or mobility issues that make them particularly vulnerable.

Common elopement situations

Nursing home elopement can happen for many reasons. Here are some of the most common causes:

• Wandering due to cognitive impairment: Residents with dementia or other cognitive impairments may leave the facility due to confusion or an inability to recognize their surroundings.
• Attempts to return home: Some residents, particularly those newly admitted to a nursing home, may attempt to leave in an effort to return to their previous home. They may not fully understand why they are in the facility, or may simply wish to regain their independence.
• Emotional distress: Feelings of frustration, anxiety or unhappiness can prompt a resident to attempt to leave. This may occur if they feel isolated, are dissatisfied with their care or are experiencing a mental health crisis.
• Lack of supervision: Staffing shortages or lapses in monitoring can increase the risk of elopement. For instance, if a resident is not properly accounted for during shift changes or while transitioning between activities, they may find an opportunity to leave unnoticed.
• Open access points: Residents may exploit unsecured doors, windows or other access points. Facilities that lack adequate security measures, such as alarms or locked entrances, are more susceptible to elopement incidents.

To minimize the risk of elopement, nursing homes must implement comprehensive safety protocols, such as regular resident counts, secure entry and exit points and staff training in addressing at-risk behaviors.

If you suspect your loved one’s nursing home is neglecting their care, call the Law Offices of Tim Misny right away.

Talk to an Ohio nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer today

The Law Offices of Tim Misny can help you with your nursing home abuse and neglect claim. If the nursing home failed to meet appropriate standards of care, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (877) 944-4373 so that I can evaluate your case right away.