NCCDP Endorses Project Lifesaver
FEATURED LINKS
Elopement Resource Manual from Healthcare Association of New York
- Alert Systems for Missing Adults, CMS report for Congress 2009, Silver Alert Legislation, Golden Alert Legislation
- Alzheimer Dandyfunk for Caregivers - List many products Motion sensors and Tracking
- A Shoe for Wanderers - (with tracking device), October 14 2011 NY Times
- Best Practices for Preventing Elopement With Patients With Dementia in Hospitals - FREE VIDEO TO VIEW
- Breadcrumb - Wandering Solution
- DBS Productions - Alzheimer's Links
- dbs Productions - The Source of Search and Rescue Research, Publications and Training - Wandering Incident: Preparedness
- Dehydration Risk Assessment Tool
- Dementia Care Mapping
- Dementia Care Mapping Book
- Dewing Risk for Wandering Risk Assessment Tool
- Elopement Resource Manual
- Elopement Resource Manual from Healthcare Association of New York
- Elopement Risk Assessment Form
- EM Finders, Elopement Risk Assessment Form, Elopement Risk Assessment Decision Tree
- First Responder Training - Wandering and Elopement
- GPS Shoes
- Guide for the Use of Disguised Doors and other Preventive Exiting Strategies for People with Dementia
- Guidelines for Best Practice Elopement Prevention Assessments, policies and forms
- Keruve Family Direct Locator - GPS Watch and Receiver
- LifeProTekt
- Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist—1990R
- Mental State Exam (MMSE)
- Missing Resident Protocol and Risk Assessments Hazardous Wandering and Elopement Continuing Care Risk Management System
- Myth Busting: The Wandering Issue
- National Institute for Elopement Prevention and Resolution
- New York State EDGE Program Electronic Dementia Guide for Excellence
- Patient Leaves Nursing Home Three Times in One Day
- Personal Alarms: Safety Device or Hazard
- Practical Approaches to Dementia Care
- Project Lifesaver International and Lo Jack Safety Net Solution
- Revised Algase Wandering Scale (RAWS)
- RoamAlert - Stanley Healthcare Solutions
- Short Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS)
- The Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory: Long Form with Expanded Descriptions of Behaviors
- The Florida Factor, dbs Productions, Wandering Characteristics
- The Windsor Star, Canada, Family sues long term care home over death, November 26th 2012
- US Department of Health and Human Services -Agency for Health Care Research and Quality -
National Guideline Clearinghouse - Wandering Guidelines and Assessments - Vigil Health Solutions - Nurse Call and Dementia Monitoring Technology
- Wandering Behavior
- Wandering Committee Guidelines
- Wandering Behavior: Preparing for It and Preventing It.
- Wandering Protocol
Marie Boltz, MSN, APRN-BC, NHA Director of Practice Initiatives
The John A Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing
NYU College of Nursing
Introduction
One of the most challenging, life-threatening issues related to care of the person with cognitive loss is the occurrence of wandering, wherein the person strays into unsafe territories and may be harmed. The most dangerous form of wandering is elopement in which the confused person leaves an area and does not return. The risk of wandering has become a growing concern of families, long-term care facilities, regulators, and insurers
.1 In addition to civil liability, care providers can be fined by the state regulatory agency for failure to prevent elopement.
2 The effects upon the population served and the staff are no less dramatic. The sense of security of those served and their families is severely shaken, and staff morale as well as the organization’s reputation is dealt a devastating blow.
3 The aim of this chapter is to define wandering, elopement, and related issues, and to summarize the scope of the problems in terms of prevalence and effect. The types and causes of wandering and generally accepted approaches to care will be discussed. The regulatory and risk management considerations will also be presented. A hypothetical case will be presented. Finally, the role of an expert witness will be discussed.
