Wandering & Elopement

Wandering and Elopement Lawyer in Orange County

When a nursing home resident with dementia or other cognitive impairment walks out of a facility unnoticed, the consequences can be devastating. Our wandering and elopement lawyer in Orange County has over two decades of experience helping families investigate whether the facility knew their loved one was at risk, failed to take reasonable precautions, or responded improperly after the resident went missing

Travis Siegel focuses exclusively on elder abuse and nursing home abuse cases. Located near the intersection of the Santa Ana Freeway (the 5) and the Costa Mesa Freeway (the 55), our office offers convenient travel for clients across Orange County, Los Angeles County, and throughout Southern California. We can also meet remotely for your convenience.

Call (562) 414-5294 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation.

When Wandering Becomes a Nursing Home Safety Issue

Federal nursing home guidance specifically addresses unsafe wandering and elopement, including the need to identify risks, implement interventions, and revise care plans when necessary.

A resident walking around a facility is not automatically evidence of neglect. The more important questions are whether the resident's behavior created a known safety risk, whether staff recognized that risk, and whether appropriate precautions were actually put in place.

Was Your Loved One at Risk of Wandering?

Dementia, Alzheimer’s, confusion, a history of wandering, or repeated attempts to leave can all make a resident more vulnerable. The facility's records may show whether those behaviors were identified during assessments or after an incident and whether the resident's care plan addressed them.

Federal guidance calls for a comprehensive assessment of resident-specific risks and care plans that include interventions based on the resident's conditions, risks, needs, and behaviors.

When investigating an elopement, we want to know what staff knew before the resident left and whether that information was reflected in the care plan.

Did the Facility Take Appropriate Precautions?

Once a significant risk is identified, the facility may need to adjust supervision, monitoring, environmental safeguards, or other individualized interventions. Depending on the circumstances, that might include functioning door alarms, secured areas, increased observation, or changes to the resident's care plan.

Alarms can assist with monitoring, but do not replace necessary supervision, and facilities should respond to exit-seeking behavior and maintain working safety systems. Staffing can also become relevant when residents are left unsupervised, alarms go unanswered, or known exit-seeking behavior is not addressed.

What Happened When Your Loved One Left?

The response after an elopement can be just as important as the precautions beforehand. How quickly did staff recognize the resident was missing? Did they follow the facility's search and emergency procedures? Were family members and authorities notified? Was the incident accurately documented?

California guidance recognizes elopements as incidents that can threaten a patient's safety and welfare and may require reporting under applicable rules. An unsupervised resident may face serious risks from traffic, extreme temperatures, dehydration, falls, drowning, or other environmental hazards.

An Orange County Lawyer You Can Trust

A closer review of assessments, care plans, staffing records, alarm logs, incident reports, and medical records can help establish what the facility knew and how it responded. We know how to go about investigating these cases, and our lawyer works directly with clients. At Travis Siegel, our approach combines personal attention with aggressive trial advocacy.

What’s more, we work on a contingency basis, so there are no legal fees unless a recovery is secured. If your loved one wandered or eloped from a nursing home and suffered physical injuries or worse, we’re here to help you understand what happened and what records may be important.

Call (562) 414-5294 today.

Our FAQ

Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at 562-414-5294 today!

Choosing the right nursing home for your loved ones is a personal (and tough) decision. It is something you must decide on your own, or with the rest of your family. With that in mind, however, there are a few resources you can use to help with the decision.
The Health Facilities Consumer Information System provided by the state of California lets you search for different types of health facilities, including nursing homes. The Medicare website also provides a tool for finding nursing homes.
The Health Facilities Consumer Information System also lets you search for complaints against said facilities. You can use this tool to check on any homes you might be considering and see if complaints have been filed against them.
Remember, if you suspect any form of elderly abuse or negligence has occurred, trust your instincts and call us at Siegel Law. 562-414-5294
Pressure sores, also called bed sores and pressure ulcers, are a common sign of nursing home abuse or neglect. They are caused by unrelieved pressure on the skin. Bed sores typically appear near areas where the bones are close to the skin: the hips, back, elbows, and ankles. When pressure sores first show up, they’re just skin irritation. With prompt treatment, they typically have no lasting effects. When not treated quickly, however, later stages can result in serious damage not only to the skin but also to muscle and bone.
The greatest tragedy of pressure sores is that they are relatively easy to prevent. Regular movement of a person restricted to a bed or wheelchair can help avoid pressure sores. Someone who must remain in bed should be moved about every two hours. The use of a pressure-reducing mattress can help. A proper diet, cleanliness, and daily exercise all help prevent pressure sores and eliminate the serious harm that can accompany them.
The answer is no. Siegel Law takes all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that our clients owe the firm nothing for expenses unless they are awarded a monetary settlement or we receive a favorable verdict at trial. All expenses will be deducted from the settlement or jury verdict. Not a dime will be taken out of your pocket.

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If your elderly loved one is being abused or mistreated, learn how our attorney can help you. You can reach us by calling (562) 414-5294 or using the form below.

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Decades of Experience

Travis Siegel has been practicing law since 2002. He is well-versed in injury law and knows how to prepare an effective claim that maximizes a recovery.
Will Fight For You

Having witnessed a personal family tragedy involving medical malpractice at a young age, Travis has dedicated his entire legal career to helping families seek justice.
Proven Results

Travis Siegel has successfully recovered millions of dollars for his injured clients, including multi-million dollar recoveries in complex cases.
With You at Every Step

Travis is known as an aggressive litigator who has the courtroom savvy and tenacity to take any claim to court if necessary.
Experience
Travis Siegel has been protecting abused elders since 2002. He is well-versed in injury law and knows how to prepare an effective claim that maximizes recovery.
Trial Advocacy
Travis is known as an aggressive litigator who has the courtroom savvy and tenacity to take any claim to court if necessary. He stands by your side every step of the way, inside and outside of court.