How Can Nursing Homes Prevent Elopement?

The Washington Post recently reported that between 2018 and 2023, more than 2,000 residents wandered away from assisted living facilities, and nearly 100 of those people died. Another study in the Annals of Long-Term Care has found that roughly 31% of nursing home residents with dementia wander away at least once.

Preventing these tragedies requires a wide-ranging approach to addressing the various factors that contribute to a resident’s desire or ability to leave the facility.

Below, we’ll take a detailed look at some implementable nursing home strategies that have proven effective in mitigating elopement risks:

What is “Elopement” in Nursing Homes?

Elopement is when a resident leaves a nursing home unsupervised or unnoticed without authorization.

This is often due to dementia (including Alzheimer’s), confusion, or out of a desire to get back to an environment that they’re familiar with. This can lead to accidents, injuries, and even fatalities, making elopement prevention a crucial component of resident safety and facility concerns.

Preventing Elopement

Some key factors that can affect incidents of elopement can include:

Staff Training and Awareness

Nursing homes should maintain constant and vigilant supervision of residents, especially those with a history of wandering or elopement. Staff training should emphasize how to detect the early signs of wandering behaviors and have effective response protocols in place.

By conducting comprehensive behavioral assessments when a new resident is admitted and periodically thereafter, facilities can better identify residents who are at a higher risk of elopement. These assessments must take into consideration factors like cognitive impairment, any history of wandering, and the resident’s preferences for certain environments.

Security Management

Maintaining secure building exits with alarms and electronic monitoring systems can also help deter elopement. Nursing homes can install secure entry and exit systems, such as keypad locks, card access, or biometric scanners. These systems ensure that only authorized personnel and visitors can move freely through the facility, while residents who may be at risk of wandering are kept within safe boundaries.

Physically Accessible Wandering Options

A safe, engaging environment can significantly reduce the risk of elopement.

Secure outdoor areas, like enclosed gardens or courtyards, allow residents to safely enjoy time outside without the risk of wandering off. These areas provide them with opportunities for fresh air and physical activity, both of which can help reduce restlessness.

Implementing safe and well-monitored walking paths within the facility allows residents to enjoy their freedom of movement while still minimizing elopement risks.

Clearly written signs and visual cues can help residents navigate these paths and the facility in general safely and visual indicators of restricted areas and exit routes can help reduce residents’ confusion and lessen the risk of unintentional elopement.

In addition to offering secure outdoor spaces, facilities that provide engaging activities can reduce residents’ desire to wander. Activities like games, social events, or sensory therapy can encourage residents to stay occupied and content, thus lowering the likelihood of them attempting elopement.

Additional Solutions To Reduce Chances of Residents Venturing From Their Nursing Homes

Nursing homes need to implement strategies to reduce the risk of elopement and ensure the safety of their residents. Below are five effective ways to reduce elopement in nursing homes.

• Personalized Care Plans tailored to residents’ specific needs and risks enhance elopement prevention. These plans may include supervision levels, scheduled activities, and environmental modifications aligned with each resident’s behavior and preferences.
• Family and Caregiver Involvement: Engaging family members and caregivers in care planning promotes collaborative efforts in elopement prevention. Providing education on recognizing signs of restlessness or agitation can aid in early intervention.
• Use of technology: Systems like GPS tracking devices or wearable sensors can help keep track of residents’ whereabouts and movements and immediately alert staff to possible elopement risks through real-time tracking and notifications. Strategically placed surveillance cameras in common areas and at exits can provide additional security. Continuous monitoring allows staff to quickly identify elopement risks and respond promptly. (Note: A legal guardian or family member should always be advised before such steps are implemented in private spaces. This right of privacy is supported on a Federal level as well by the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987.)

Policies and Protocols

Establishing clear policies and protocols for responding to elopement as quickly and effectively as possible is essential.

Drills and Training

All members of staff should complete regular drills to practice emergency responses in case of elopement and be prepared to ensure swift and coordinated actions. Management should maintain detailed records of elopement incidents, near-misses, and preventive measures taken (as well as their success or failure) to facilitate ongoing improvement in safety protocols.

Quality Assurance Measures

Implementing regular audits and quality assurance checks allows nursing homes to assess the effectiveness of elopement prevention strategies. Feedback from staff, residents, and families can inform adjustments to policies and practices.

Elopement prevention in nursing homes works best when approached in a considered and multifaceted way that combines staff training, environmental adaptations, personalized care planning, technological innovations, and dedicated attention to elopement policies.

By prioritizing each resident’s safety and maintaining proactive security strategies, nursing homes and other eldercare facilities can significantly reduce the frequency of elopement and its associated risks while fostering a secure environment that supports the well-being of all residents.

These strategies not only enhance safety but also help maintain important regulatory compliances regarding the overall quality of care provided in nursing home settings.

As the landscape of long-term elder care continues to evolve, the ongoing commitment to elopement prevention by staff, management, and family members will remain paramount in safeguarding our most vulnerable citizens and meeting their diverse needs with diligence and respect.