When a resident with dementia or memory impairment wanders away from a nursing home or assisted living facility in San Francisco, the consequences can be devastating. Wandering and elopement are among the most dangerous forms of neglect in elder care settings. Residents may suffer falls, traffic injuries, exposure to extreme weather, dehydration, or death. These incidents are not unavoidable accidents. In many cases, they are the direct result of facility neglect.
Families searching for a San Francisco nursing home wandering lawyer are often doing so after a frightening and preventable incident. California law recognizes that residents with memory impairment are uniquely vulnerable and requires facilities to take proactive steps to keep them safe.
Duties of San Francisco Nursing Homes and Assisted Living FacilitiesNursing homes and assisted living facilities in San Francisco have a legal obligation to protect residents from foreseeable harm. Wandering by residents with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is a known and well-understood risk. Facilities must anticipate this behavior and implement safeguards, including:
When a facility fails to take these steps, and a resident wanders away, the facility may be liable for neglect. A qualified San Francisco nursing home wandering lawyer can evaluate whether these duties were breached.
Why Wandering Happens in San Francisco FacilitiesWandering rarely occurs without warning. In San Francisco nursing homes, elopement often results from systemic failures such as:
Once outside the facility, a resident with memory impairment may be unable to recognize danger or find help.
Wandering as Elder Neglect Under California LawCalifornia elder abuse laws define neglect as the failure to provide goods or services necessary to meet an elder’s basic needs. Supervision and safety are basic needs. When a facility knows a resident is at risk of wandering and does not take reasonable steps to prevent it, that failure can constitute elder neglect.
Facilities often attempt to excuse elopement by claiming it was unexpected. The law does not support that defense when memory impairment is known. A skilled San Francisco nursing home wandering lawyer can hold facilities accountable for these failures.
Call Nursing Home Law GroupNursing Home Law Group has represented individuals and families impacted by nursing home abuse and neglect. Sadly, most of these events lead to serious injury or death. With award winning attorneys and a long record of success throughout California, Nursing Home Law Group investigates wandering and elopement cases aggressively. If your loved one was harmed after wandering from a San Francisco Bay Area nursing facility, contact Nursing Home Law Group to speak with a trusted San Francisco nursing home wandering lawyer.