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Signs or Symptoms of Abuse or Neglect
Elopements
Nursing home patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other mentally debilitating illnesses, may attempt to elope from the facility during their stay. In the nursing home setting, elopement, otherwise known as wandering, refers to the patient leaving a facility without notice or permission.
Nursing homes are required to assess patients to see if they are at risk for wandering and must put in place a care plan to prevent such an outcome. That plan of care may involve housing the resident in a secure wing or placing an alarm on the resident to alert the staff when the patients exits the facility.
The following source provides helpful information in providing assistance in dealing with loved ones who are at risk of wandering.