Staff members at an Illinois nursing home recently reported to police that one of their residents, a 61-year-old man, had walked out of the facility that morning and was still missing. Police looking for the resident were advised to use caution because the man had tested positive for COVID-19.
The missing resident was reported to be African American with a clean-shaven head, 5-feet-10 inches tall, and weighing about 225 pounds. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a brown jacket and dark-colored jeans.
Data from the Illinois Department of Public Health indicated that the facility has 100 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus, and there have been 7 deaths among residents and staff.
The nursing home spokesperson was not able to provide any additional information.
Compliance Perspective
Failure to prevent a resident with COVID-19 from eloping from the facility not only places the resident in immediate jeopardy, but contributes to the spread of the Coronavirus into the community. The elopement may be considered abuse and neglect due to a lack of adequate risk assessment, supervision, and infection control, which could be deemed substandard quality of care with immediate jeopardy, in violation of state and federal regulations.
Discussion Points:
- Review policies and procedures that are in place for prevention and response to elopement, and the emergency preparedness protocols for preventing elopements of residents during an infection control crisis like the Coronavirus.
- Train staff on performing elopement risk assessments, communicating results of risk assessments to care plans and direct-care staff, ensuring adequate supervision, and posting of photographs at nurse’s stations and at the reception area so staff are familiar with those assessed as at risk for elopement. Also, train staff on the facility’s procedure for responding to an elopement and for proper use of PPE.
- Periodically audit, using mock elopement alerts, to ensure that staff are observing protocols for preventing and responding properly to attempts at and actual elopements.
