Elopement /Wandering
One of the most challenging, life-threatening issues related to care of the person with cognitive loss is the occurrence of Elopement also known as wandering. Elopement is the act of “wandering” throughout a facility or outside a facility, by people with diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Elopement usually takes place when that facility fails to prevent a resident from “wandering” by providing inadequate care, due to improper training, understaffing, and not following policies and procedures amongst other things. In almost all cases the facility knew previously that the elder may have a susceptibility to eloping due to their history of neurological diseases, but neglected to take the proper measures to prevent it from happening. Statistics indicate that in the United States, around 35,000 patients wander out of their homes each year .Studies vary on the prevalence of eloping but it is estimated that 13 to 24% Elope/wander. If eloping occurs and the elder sustains injury, the care facility may be held legally accountable for any resulting injury, or even death, which may occur. If elopement occurs compensation may sought for any injury or death which occurred as a result of the facility's negligence in failing to prevent the eloping from occurring.