In residents with dementia, wandering is a common behavior that causes great risk to the resident. Although it occurs with several types of dementia, wandering is especially problematic in persons with Alzheimer’s disease. This is because Alzheimer’s disease frequently produces impaired memory, and persons with impaired memory are likely to become disoriented and lost simply because they do not recognize where they are or do not remember how they came to be there.
Caring for nursing home residents or patients at skilled nursing facilities with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia must be comprehensive. Each care facility must not only meet its residents’ personal and medical needs, but must also have a protocol in place to prevent its residents from wandering unsafely throughout its facility, or off the property where they can face many dangers of being in an unfamiliar environment in which they are not mentally able to protect themselves.
When nursing homes and other care facilities fail to prevent their residents from wandering unsafely throughout the facility or even off property, the care facility may be held legally accountable for any resulting injury, or even death, which can occur. If you or a loved one experienced a wandering incident, you may be entitled to compensation for any injury or death which occurred as a result of the facility’s negligence in failing to prevent the wandering.
The attorneys and professional staff at Berman & Riedel, LLP are experienced with handling wandering cases and have the skill necessary to provide you with sound advice on what your rights may be under the law. Contact an attorney at Berman and Riedel, LLP to discuss your options.
