Wandering long-term care residents pose a danger risk to themselves through falls or other injury. There are multiple ways to ensure or enhance safety for wandering residents and prevent self-injury.
First, the long-term care facility can ensure that there is enough staff on duty to supervise residents prone to wandering. Long-term care facilities should have locks on doors and windows in areas of risk, such as exit doors, stairwells, and windows. These locks should be checked regularly to ensure that they are properly fastened and in working order.
Long-term facilities should also opt to utilize bed and/or chair alarms for active residents. These alarms will sound when the resident exits the bed or chair and is moving around. These alarms will trigger staff members to check on the resident’s whereabouts. Of course, for this measure to be effective, there need to be enough properly trained staff members present to respond when an alarm sounds.
New technology for protection includes wireless and RFID (radio frequency identification) door security and tracking solutions. With a simple RFID system, residents are assigned a bracelet upon admission to a long-term care facility. Doors are equipped with wireless keypads, RFID readers, and tags. When a resident wearing a bracelet comes within range of the RFID reader at exit doors, an alarm sounds and the door automatically locks. Keypads placed at the doors allow staff members to bypass the system in the event a resident needs to leave the facility or enter another area of the facility.
With its main offices located in San Diego, Berman & Riedel, LLP is a California elder abuse and neglect law firm that represents victims throughout the state. Regarded by many as one of California’s leading advocates for nursing home residents’ rights, the firm’s nursing home attorneys have successfully secured some of the highest settlements and awards in nursing home related litigation.
If you believe a loved one’s wandering incident at a long-term care facility was caused by the negligence or wrongful conduct of the facility’s staff or caregivers, call Berman & Riedel, LLP today at (858) 350-8855. Our staff will happily provide you and your family with an initial free consultation to discuss with you any questions or concerns you may have regarding the care your elderly loved one is receiving in a nursing home or other type of elder care facility. To learn more about the firm, visit Berman & Riedel, LLP’s elder abuse and neglect website at www.preventelderabuse.com.
