As the population grows older here in Georgia, the number of people who develop Alzheimer's and dementia will continue to rise. More of these elderly folks will require full time care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities because the burden of caring for them by family members can become impossible.
The nursing home resident with Alzheimer's or dementia requires special care to protect them from serious injury or death. These residents are not responsible for themselves & often wander if not watched over.The facility and staff must protect them or they can face serious injury or death. The nursing home must utilize special monitoring devices, locked and secured surroundings, and other electronic equipment for tracking their whereabouts.Most importantly, there must be a staff with proper training and dedication to their duties and responsibilities.
A recent incident reported in the Chicago Tribune points out one of the many ways a wandering Alzheimer's resident can face tragedy if the staff does not do their job.
Our Atlanta, Georgia nursing home abuse law firm has represented victims and their families in many wandering cases. One law suit our lawfirm filed resulted from the death of a kind hearted gentleman with Alzheimer's who was allowed to wander on a daily basis from a Macon, Georgia nursing home. His life ended when he wandered onto Georgia Interstate I-75 near Warner Robins where he was struck by a tractor trailer.
Whenever a decision is made to admit a loved one to a nursing home or assisted living facility, take care to ask questions about how they deal with the special needs of patients with Alzheimer's and dementia. Wandering can begin at anytime and once it does will likely continue.
