Elopement--exposure and control

A reasonable response for a nursing home to make to minimize elopement exposure is to: 1. Establish a written elopement risk-management plan. 2. Establish a written screening criteria for what characteristics make a high-risk eloper. 3. Educate the staff so they are better able to identify and respond to residents who are potential elopers. 4. Ensure that the staff is quick to investigate any activated door alarms. 5. Keep all stairwells alarmed. 6. Keep normal exit alarms activated on all but a minimum number of egress points and use alternate controls on non-alarmed doors. 7. Critique the plan through "elopement drills" or after actual occurrences and refine the plan if needed. With this type of organized approach, nursing home facilities can continue to offer home-like environments while minimizing the liability exposure that elopement represents.