Causes of Wandering and Elopement
July 21, 2017 | The Rooth Law Firm Nursing Home Abuse
The Dangers of Wandering Behavior and Elopement
Wandering and elopementare two serious behaviors in whichnursing home residentscan engage that can be very dangerous to their safety. There are many risk factors for such behavior.
WhatAretheMainRiskFactorsforWanderingandElopement?
In addition to medication complications, other risk factors can include:
- Neurological disorders
- Psychological or adjustment issues
- And environmental factors
Neurological Disorders
Degenerative neurological conditions, such asAlzheimer’s diseaseor dementia, can increase the risk of wandering behavior since the affected individual often “forgets” where he or she is and where he or she is going.
These conditions can cause a person to:
- Wander aimlessly
- Engage in random and haphazard travel
- Or travel in a repetitive pattern around a given path
Those with more severe diseases often exhibit more pronounced and potentially more dangerous behavior, as these individuals often lack a sense of danger and are unable to perceive the potential for harm in a given situation.
Problems sleeping through the nightcan also lead to cognitive impairments and can cause an uptick in daytime ambulation (walking and moving) and wandering. Certain medications can disrupt sleep patterns and can be a contributing factor.
Other medications, usually prescribed for treating or managing neurological conditions, can also increase the risk of wandering behavior as well.
Psychological Issues
Depressionand agitation are two of the most common psychological causes for elopement behavior. Upon arrival at the nursing home, a new resident may be consumed by anger at the change in circ*mstances or may be scared of his or her new living arrangement.
These feelings can encourage a resident to attemptelopementfrom the facility, which can be dangerous and detrimental to his or her safety. The resident usually does not have a plan for escape or any idea what he or she will do after escaping. Elopers are merely driven by their desire to leave.
Other psychological factors can also cause a resident to elope or wander to alleviate these feelings, such as:
- Lack of self-control
- An uncontrollable sense of boredom
- Stress
- Or anxiety
Environmental Factors
There are many environmental factors that can triggerwandering and elopementin thosenursing home residentswho are at risk for engaging in such behavior. For instance, “cues to leave,” such as seeing a jacket and keys by the door, may trigger the impulse in a cognitively impaired individual to leave, just likeseeing a bus station can trigger the impulse to ride the bus to get home.
Similarly, sometimes wanderers are drawn to investigate something, and then become distracted, eventually wandering off. Unfamiliar places can cause anxiety, which can instigate wandering behavior as the resident tries to “find his or her way” to someplace more familiar.
If you are worried that your loved one is at risk of wandering unsafely or eloping from a nursing home and you are concerned that the nursing home is not doing enough to protect your loved one from harm, please contact theRooth Law Firmtoday by phone at(847) 869-9100or by filling out ouronline contact form.
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