Unsupervised Exits and Wandering in Nursing Homes
Contact a Tampa attorney skilled at handling nursing home elopement cases
Nursing homes are responsible for keeping residents safe, supervised, and protected from harm. But when a facility fails to do its job, vulnerable residents can wander away or leave the premises unsupervised. This is a dangerous event known as elopement. If your loved one escaped from a nursing home through an unsupervised exit, you are right to be concerned.
Elopement can lead to serious injuries, medical complications, and even death. Elderly residents, especially those with dementia or Alzheimer’s, may become disoriented, walk into traffic, suffer from dehydration, or fall victim to criminal acts.
If a nursing home allowed your parent to wander away, they failed their legal duty to provide proper supervision. At Armando Personal Injury Law, we help families in Tampa and throughout Florida hold negligent nursing homes accountable. If your loved one escaped from a nursing home, we can help you take legal action. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.
What is nursing home elopement?
Elopement occurs when a resident leaves a nursing home or assisted living facility without supervision or proper security measures in place. Some residents are at high risk for wandering out of unsupervised exits, particularly those with:
- Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
- Cognitive impairments or memory loss
- Confusion or disorientation
- A history of previous elopement attempts
Residents who wander may exit through unlocked doors, broken gates, or poorly monitored exits. When staff members fail to monitor or prevent an at-risk resident from leaving, the nursing home can and should be held responsible.
How did your parent escape a nursing home?
If your parent or loved one wandered off, it likely happened because the nursing home failed in one or more of the following ways:
Lack of supervision
Nursing homes must monitor residents, particularly those at risk for wandering. If staff members were distracted, undertrained, or negligent, they may have missed clear signs that your loved one was trying to leave.
Poor security measures
Facilities must secure their premises with:
- Locked doors in memory care units
- Alarms and surveillance cameras to monitor exits
- Trained staff watching at-risk residents
If your parent was able to walk out without staff noticing, the facility failed to provide proper security.
Understaffing & inattentiveness
Many nursing homes operate with too few staff members, making it impossible to monitor residents properly. If staff shortages or lack of training led to your loved one’s elopement, the facility should be held accountable.
What happens when a nursing home resident wanders off?
An unsupervised exit can lead to severe injuries and life-threatening consequences. Common dangers include:
- Exposure to extreme weather: In Florida’s heat and humidity, an elderly person wandering outside can suffer from heatstroke, dehydration, or sun exposure within minutes. At night, cold weather can cause hypothermia.
- Traffic accidents: A confused nursing home resident may walk into oncoming traffic, leading to devastating injuries or death.
- Falls and fractures: Elderly individuals often suffer from balance issues. If they trip on uneven pavement or curbs, they may sustain broken bones, head trauma, or hip fractures.
- Criminal acts and assault: A lost or disoriented nursing home resident is especially vulnerable to crime. They may become victims of theft, assault, or exploitation.
Nursing homes are legally responsible for preventing these tragic situations. If your loved one suffered harm due to elopement, you may have a strong case for nursing home negligence. Armando Personal Injury Law can conduct a thorough investigation to find out what caused your loved one’s harm and who was responsible.
Can I sue a Florida nursing home for elopement?
If your loved one wandered off due to lack of supervision or poor security, you may be able to file a nursing home negligence lawsuit. These cases hold facilities accountable for:
- Failing to monitor high-risk residents
- Not securing doors, alarms, or exits
- Negligent hiring or understaffing issues
- Ignoring prior wandering incidents
Florida law requires nursing homes to provide a safe and secure environment for residents. If a facility ignored this responsibility, they should be held liable for the harm caused. A successful lawsuit can help compensate your family for:
- Medical bills related to injuries
- Pain and suffering of your loved one
- Wrongful death damages, if elopement resulted in death
- Relocation expenses, if you move your loved one to a safer facility
Armando Personal Injury Law fights to ensure families get the justice and compensation they deserve. We’ll leave no stone unturned when calculating your damages and determining how much money you’re owed through a settlement. This way, the insurance companies can’t attempt to lowball your compensation.
How do I prove nursing home neglect if my loved one escaped through an unsupervised exit?
Winning an elopement case requires proving that the nursing home failed in its duty of care. Our legal team investigates by gathering:
- Security footage showing how your loved one escaped
- Incident reports documenting past wandering attempts
- Staff records proving lack of supervision
- Medical assessments showing cognitive impairments
- Witness statements from staff, other residents, or visitors
Our Tampa nursing home neglect lawyers can gather the facts and build a strong case to hold the facility accountable and get your family the compensation you deserve.
My parent escaped a nursing home. What should I do?
If your parent wandered away from a nursing home unsupervised, act quickly to protect their health and hold the facility accountable. First, make sure they’re safe. Seek immediate medical attention if they’re injured or show signs of distress. Even if they seem fine, a doctor should evaluate them for dehydration, exposure, or hidden injuries.
Next, report the incident to the nursing home’s administration in writing. Request a formal investigation and ask for records, including security logs and staffing reports. Take photos of any injuries, as well as the facility’s entrances, exits, and any security failures that may have contributed to the situation.
Before speaking with the nursing home’s insurance company or accepting any explanation, speak to a nursing home negligence lawyer. A legal professional can help you understand your rights, hold the facility accountable, and seek compensation for any harm your loved one suffered. Your parent’s safety and dignity should always come first.
Let a Tampa nursing home neglect lawyer fight for your family
If your loved one wandered away from a nursing home through unsupervised exits and suffered harm, you deserve answers and justice. You trusted the nursing home to keep your parent safe, and when they failed, they must be held responsible.
The Tampa nursing home neglect attorneys at Armando Personal Injury Law know how devastating it is to realize a facility failed to protect someone you love. These cases aren’t just about compensation; they’re about preventing future harm to other families.
Time is critical in nursing home negligence cases. Contact us online or call today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case. We work on a contingency fee basis and only get paid if we win. Plus, there’s no obligation to work with us if we’re not a good fit for your case.