South Carolina Nursing Home Neglect Lawyers Protecting Families

South Carolina nursing homes must evaluate residents to assess their propensity to wander. If a resident wanders, or is deemed likely to wander, he or she should be provided additional supervision. Residents who are prone to wander don’t need to have their freedom completely removed, but they must be monitored carefully. The staff of the nursing home must find the right balance between freedom and safety for each resident. If wandering occurs, the nursing home should inform the loved ones and family members of the resident about the situation. In certain cases, a different facility may be better suited to provide the comfort and safety that a resident who is prone to wandering may need.

If a resident is injured as a result of a nursing home in South Carolina failing to meet the minimum expected standard of care, the facility may be subject to a claim of nursing home abuse or negligence. In order to fulfill the minimum expected standard of care, it is advised that nursing homes do the following:

• Identify residents who are prone to wander
• Develop a plan of care for residents prone to wandering or elopement
• Decorate and furnish residents’ rooms with art and pictures that provide the residents of a sense of familiarity and comfort
• Provide safe areas within the facility to wander
• Provide areas for residents to rest and stop while in the process of wandering
• Maintain enough staffing to ensure the safety of each resident
• Camouflage building exits
• Provide activities and sensory stimulation opportunities to meet the needs of residents
• Maintain well-lit and uncluttered walking paths in the facility
• Use bed alarms for residents who wander at night
• Use safety locks on drawers and closets that may contain hazardous materials
• Place residents who wander in rooms that are far away from building exits
• Evaluate and provide for the basic needs of residents such as, food, fluids, toileting, and pain management
• Place pictures and signs in locations outside of the resident’s room to help him or her find it
• Install a taped grid pattern on floors in front of restricted areas or exits – this can produce a sense of instability and prevent the resident from using an exit and eloping

The activity of wandering may be beneficial to the resident if he or she fulfills a need for sensory stimulation, exercise, or behavior that is purposeful and reaches a goal. However, there is a negative side of wandering. It can potentially lead to elopement, excess fatigue, falls, altercations with other residents, anxiety, or exposure to hazardous substances. For these reasons it is a solemn responsibility of a nursing home to manage wandering behaviors effectively and protect its residents from injuries and other potential negative consequences.

Get help from an experienced South Carolina nursing home neglect attorney today

If your loved one has suffered an injury through nursing home abuse or neglect, whether the harm occurred due to wandering or elopement from the facility, it’s important to understand your loved one’s rights. Every nursing home resident in South Carolina has a right to receive a proper standard of care and supervision. At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, we can provide you with the strong advocacy you need for your loved one who has suffered injustice. To schedule a free consultation with an experienced South Carolina nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer like Johnny Felder, call us today at 803-327-7800 or complete our contact form. We serve clients from our offices in Anderson, Columbia, Georgetown, Rock Hill, Charleston, and Sumter.