![[picture of] Charles R. Scully](/design/images/attorneyName.gif){kind=small}
Seeking Compensation for Injuries Caused by Lack of Supervision
The Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 (NHRA) requires nursing homes to provide residents with adequate supervision to prevent the possibility of wandering off or elopement. Federal staffing regulations are not always enough, however. Some facilities need more than the required number of staff due to their size or the mix of patients.
The Law Offices of Charles R. Scully represents families of Florida nursing home residents who were allowed to wander off and were injured as a result. You can rely on our years of experience with nursing home negligence cases. For a free consultation with a St. Petersburg nursing home wandering injury lawyer, please call 866-611-4205 or contact us online.
Wandering Off and Elopement
Inadequate staffing is the primary reason that residents are not properly supervised and, therefore, allowed to wander. Additional problems may include:
- Failure to train staff on resident supervision
- Failure to install alarms or other safety devices to alert staff to resident movement
- Failure to adequately supervise residents with dementia or Alzheimer's
Wandering refers to a cognitively impaired resident moving unsupervised through the nursing home without a rational purpose or appreciation of his or her personal safety needs. Unattended residents can wander into dangerous areas such as stairwells, bathrooms, kitchens and supply rooms.
When a cognitively impaired resident exits a nursing home unsupervised, it is called elopement. This is an extremely dangerous situation, because the resident is vulnerable to countless hazards such as dehydration, heat exposure, frost bite, falls, missed medication, pedestrian accidents and wrongful death.
We will work to prove negligence by the nursing home and obtain compensation for your family.
Clearwater Nursing Home Elopement Attorneys
Please call our office at 866-611-4205 to schedule a free consultation.
