What is an “elopement risk”?
CMS defines an elopement risk as a patient or resident who is prone to leaving the premises or a safe area without authorization and/or necessary supervision. Sometimes, this is a result of the resident’s clinical status (dementia etc.) and in virtually every instance this can be extremely dangerous to the well being of the resident.
Residents who elope may become lost and/or exposed to a plethora of harmful elements, including vehicular traffic, inclement weather, and so much more.
It is therefore imperative that nursing facilities have systems in place to prevent their residents from eloping, especially during the summer months when the weather is nicer.
