Lexington Nursing Home Elopement Lawyer

Nursing home elopement can result in severe injuries and death for a nursing home resident. Leaving the facility without supervision is called elopement. If your loved one was injured at a nursing home, they could be entitled to compensation for their injuries and damages.

Our Lexington, KY lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience. We have recovered over a billion dollars in jury verdicts and settlements. Our award-winning lawyers fight to protect the rights of injured victims and their families.

Call Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC, to schedule a free consultation at (859) 550-2900 with one of our Lexington nursing home elopement lawyers.

How Our Lexington Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Nursing Home Elopement

Pursuing a nursing home abuse claim is a complex personal injury case. You must have proof that the nursing home negligently or intentionally harmed your loved one. Having an experienced legal team on your side gives you the best chance of success.

When you hire us, we will handle all aspects of the case, including:

• Investigate the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s injuries
• Determine why your loved one was allowed to leave the nursing home unsupervised
• Gather evidence proving your claim
• Work with the best expert witnesses, as necessary
• Determine how much your case is worth after documenting your loved one’s damages
• Negotiate settlements with the insurance providers and at-fault parties
• Go to trial and argue your case in court, if necessary

Our attorneys at Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC, have the highest ratings and have received numerous awards and recognition from national legal organizations. We have the top rating awarded by Martindale-Hubbell. We are also highly rated with Super Lawyers, Expertise, The National Trial Lawyers, and Best Lawyers. Our attorneys are members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Call Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC, to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our experienced Lexington nursing home abuse lawyers in Lexington, Kentucky.

What Is Nursing Home Elopement in Kentucky?

Nursing home elopement occurs when a patient leaves a long-term care facility without supervision. Elopement is different from wandering. A patient may wander away from a safe location and become injured. Elopement involves going outside of the facility.

Leaving the nursing home can result in severe injuries and death for patients. They could walk into traffic, fall, become lost, or be the victim of a violent crime.

Anything could happen to a nursing home patient when they leave the facility alone. The risk of being injured because of elopement increases when the patient is too impaired or ill to make sound decisions.

Why Do Nursing Home Patients Wander or Try to Leave a Nursing Home?

Nursing home patients may wander throughout the facility or try to leave for numerous reasons. Common reasons for wandering include, but are not limited to:

• Changes in medication
• A desire to see family or friends
• Being in an unfamiliar environment
• The effects of Alzheimer’s or dementia
• Sleep disorders
• Confusion
• Being overly medicated
• Unmet physical, emotional, or psychological needs
• Fear of being abused

The reasons why patients wander and try to leave a nursing home vary. It depends on the patient’s condition and other factors.

Nursing homes must use reasonable care to prevent wandering and elopement. Steps nursing homes can take to ensure patient safety include:

• Hiring sufficient staff to supervise patients
• Using night lights to provide adequate lighting
• Having a circular floor plan
• Changing door security codes regularly
• Removing tripping hazards
• Conducting multiple checks of patients throughout the day and night
• Implementing ID bracelets and other forms of identification
• Having an alarm system that alerts staff when a patient tries to leave
• Installing video surveillance at all exits and doors
• Training staff members in procedures to avoid wandering and elopement

Elopement is a form of nursing home abuse and neglect. The facility can and should be held accountable for any harm the patient sustains because of elopement or wandering.

Who Is Responsible for Damages and Injuries Caused by Nursing Home Elopement in Lexington, KY?

Nursing home elopement is preventable. Long-term care facilities and nursing homes owe a duty of care to their patients and residents. They must hire adequate staff and train staff members about wandering and elopement. A plan should be in place to prevent elopement, including adequate security and physical care.

Federal nursing home regulations require facilities to:

• Develop a comprehensive plan to provide adequate care for each resident
• Promote a resident’s quality of life
• Ensure that residents receive assistive devices to prevent accidents
• Provide for the adequate supervision of residents
• Have adequate administration to allow the nursing home to use resources efficiently and effectively
• Maintain the respect and dignity of each patient 

The Nursing Home Reform Act requires facilities to provide for the well-being of each patient. Furthermore, the facilities have a duty of care because of the relationship between the patient and the health care provider. When a nursing home breaches its duty of care, it can be held liable for economic and non-economic damages the patient sustains because of the facility’s negligence and other wrongful acts.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Lexington Nursing Home Elopement Attorneys

Was your loved one injured when they were allowed to leave a nursing home unsupervised? If so, they may be entitled to compensation for their injuries. Call Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC to schedule a free case review with one of our Lexington nursing home elopement attorneys.