Senior living facilities face some unique risks, particularly when it comes to elopement incidents. Elopement, which occurs when a resident leaves a facility without authorization or supervision, can lead to severe consequences, including injury or even death. This poses a significant liability risk for senior care facilities, leading to regulatory citations, legal claims, and increased insurance premiums.
In a recent webinar, Cathy Knopf, our Clinical Risk Management Consultant, discussed the critical issue of managing elopement in senior care communities. Here are some of the key takeaways and best practices she shared for mitigating elopement risks.
Elopement is most common among residents with cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer's or dementia. According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 50% of senior living residents have some form of cognitive impairment, which makes them particularly vulnerable to elopement. These residents may wander in search of something familiar or simply because they are disoriented, anxious, or upset.
Preventing elopement starts with understanding each resident's specific risk factors. Facilities should implement a thorough pre-admission screening process that assesses the resident's history of wandering, cognitive abilities, and exit-seeking behaviors. Based on this assessment, care plans should be developed to address the individual needs of each resident.
Here are some effective strategies for elopement prevention:
Even with preventive measures in place, it is crucial to have a solid plan for managing an elopement if one occurs. Staff should immediately:
After any elopement, it's important to review the event, conduct a root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions to prevent future incidents.
Elopement prevention is a shared responsibility within a senior care facility. Learn more by watching the replay of our webinar, "Elopement Management in Senior Living," or contact our senior living team.
If your senior care facility is struggling with survey performance, you may already be on CMS's radar. The Special Focus Facility (SFF) designation is more than just a label. It's a warning with real...
In early June, I traveled to Washington, D.C. with the Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA) and several skilled nursing facility (SNF) leaders to advocate for the long-term sustainability of nursing...
Watch the Webinar Replay Caring for individuals with dementia requires empathy, communication, and a deep understanding of how the brain changes over time. Our guest presenter, Molly Hedgpeth from...