Elopement — a single word that can send a chill down any senior living professional’s spine. I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact that resident elopements can have on senior living communities.
The statistics are alarming. an estimated 60% of individuals with dementia are prone to wandering, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. It’s estimated that each year, around 1% to 2% of residents might elope, which adds up to roughly 20,000 to 40,000 incidents across senior living communities in the United States. It’s a significant concern for the industry.
The costs of those incidents is staggering, both in human and financial terms. Recent headlines tell the tragic stories: “Jury awards $5M in senior elopement death suit”, “Assisted living caregiver receives felony conviction in freezing death of resident”, “Dozens of assisted living residents died after wandering away unnoticed” and “Seniors are wandering away from Arizona care facilities and dying in the heat,” just to name a few.
In cases of resident death, settlements often range from $250,000 to more than $1 million. Jury awards in cases of gross negligence have exceeded $5 million. But the true cost goes far beyond legal expenses.
The impact of elopements
Elopements in senior living pose multifaceted challenges that extend far beyond the immediate safety concerns including:
- Resident safety: Elopements put vulnerable older adults at risk of injury, exposure to hazards and even death. The physical and emotional toll on residents who elope can be severe.
- Staff morale: Elopements create immense stress for caregivers and can lead to burnout. The workload increases dramatically during and after an incident.
- Operational disruption: Searching for and recovering an eloped resident diverts significant time and resources. Increased supervision and security measures are often required afterwards.
- Reputational damage: News of elopements spreads quickly, harming a community’s reputation and potentially impacting occupancy rates.
- Regulatory scrutiny: Senior living operators with frequent elopements face increased oversight and potential sanctions from regulators.
Contributing Factors
Elopements often are driven by a combination of cognitive, environmental and behavioral factors:
Cognitive Impairments (that is, dementia, Alzheimer’s)
Residents with cognitive impairments face increased elopement risks due to:
- Disorientation: Cognitive decline can lead to confusion about time and place, causing residents to seek out unfamiliar or perceived familiar environments. This disorientation often drives them to leave the community.
- Memory loss: Short-term memory issues mean residents may forget their current location or the purpose of their stay, prompting them to wander in search of something they no longer can clearly remember.
- Altered perceptions: Cognitive impairments can distort a resident’s perception of safety and danger, leading them to engage in risky behaviors, such as attempting to leave, without fully recognizing the potential hazards.
Environmental triggers (such as lack of secure areas)
The design and security features of your facility play a significant role in preventing elopements:
- Inadequate security measures: Communities without advanced security technologies, such as integrated alarm systems or real-time monitoring, are more vulnerable to elopements. Implementing comprehensive solutions like Rythmos, which provides cutting-edge tracking and alert systems, can greatly enhance your community’s ability to manage and reduce these risks.
- Unclear Boundaries: Communities with poorly defined or ambiguous boundaries can confuse residents and increase the likelihood of accidental exits. Clearly marked and well-secured areas are vital for preventing unauthorized departures.
- Lack of Supervision: Inadequate staffing or insufficient monitoring can heighten the risk of elopements. Ensuring adequate staff levels and effective surveillance systems is crucial for maintaining safety.
Behavioral triggers (such as agitation, unmet needs)
Behavioral issues and unmet needs can also drive residents to elope:
- Agitation and restlessness: High levels of agitation or restlessness may lead residents to attempt to leave as a means of escaping their discomfort. Addressing these behavioral issues through appropriate care and engagement is critical.
- Unmet needs: Unaddressed needs, whether emotional or physical (for example, hunger, thirst, social interaction), can prompt residents to seek alternatives, potentially resulting in elopement.
- Desire for independence: Some residents may try to leave to regain a sense of autonomy or control, particularly if they feel restricted or powerless within the community. Facilitating a sense of independence through appropriate care strategies can help mitigate this risk.
Mitigating elopement risks
Although elopement can never be totally prevented, there are things you can do to substantially lower the risk that a resident wanders away. A comprehensive approach involves:
- Environmental design: Securing entry and exit points, installing alarm systems and designing interior wandering paths can significantly deter unauthorized exits. By creating a controlled environment, facilities can minimize the risk of residents leaving unsupervised.
- Technology integration: Leveraging advanced technology is crucial for effective elopement prevention. GPS tracking, motion sensors, and real-time monitoring systems allow for swift location and recovery of residents. At Intrex, we’ve developed Rythmos, an advanced wander management system designed to address these challenges comprehensively. Rythmos offers patented technology for real-time location tracking both indoors and outdoors with a single wearable, customizable alert zones and notifications, integration with existing security systems, data analytics for personalized care planning, and management through an intuitive web portal and mobile app.
- Staff training: Regular education on elopement prevention, emergency response and understanding dementia-related behaviors is essential. Well-trained staff members are better equipped to handle situations and implement preventive measures effectively. Consider implementing continued education or annual training to keep staff up to date on best practices.
- Resident assessments: Conducting thorough evaluations to identify residents at higher risk for elopement allows for the development of personalized care plans. Tailoring care to individual needs can help prevent incidents before they occur.
- Family engagement: Involving families in care planning and elopement education fosters a collaborative approach to prevention. Educating families about the risks and involving them in discussions can enhance overall safety and support for residents.
A call to action
Recent investigations and increased scrutiny by regulators should serve as a wake-up call for leaders in our industry.We must do better. The costs and effects of elopements are simply too high to ignore.
I encourage every senior living leader to take a proactive approach to elopement prevention. This includes:
- Reviewing and enhancing current safety protocols
- Investing in staff training and technology solutions
- Engaging with families and residents to create collaborative care plans
- Advocating for consistent regulation and oversight across state lines
Together, we can create safer environments where older adults can thrive while maintaining their dignity and autonomy.
Ted Tzirimis is the CEO of Intrex, manufacturer of Rythmos, a wearable tech solution for senior safety. Tzirimis’ background in senior living and care spans more than two decades and includes roles at The Medical Team. He champions advancements in technology that can help older adults age gracefully and preserve their independence.
The opinions expressed in each McKnight’s Senior Living marketplace column are those of the author and are not necessarily those of McKnight’s Senior Living.
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