PECK LAW GROUP UNCOVERS CONCEALMENT

Written by Adam Peck Category: Uncategorized June 2nd, 2016 2 min read

PECK LAW GROUP UNCOVERS CONCEALMENT OF SKILLED NURSING FACILITY ELOPEMENT AND RESOLVES MATTER EARLY IN THE LITIGATION FOR $375,000.00

In this case, the client received a Wanderguard order to prevent wandering / elopement, because client had a history of Wandering / elopement. Resident nurses of the skilled nursing facility noted episodes of wandering around the facility and that client was at high risk for wandering / elopement. Per doctor’s order, WanderGuard was applied on left upper extremity. Facility care plan for client was to continue to monitor client from wandering / elopement.

An Elopement Care Plan was put into place for client as he was assessed and was at complete risk for wandering/elopement. The stated goals for this Care Plan were that client shall not wander out of the facility and shall be free from injury related to any wandering / elopement. He was supposed to be visually checked every 30 minutes; however there was never any documentation in the facility records regarding these 30 minute ordered visual checks.

The client Care Plan indicated: “Dementia / Alzheimer’s manifested by confused, impaired verbal communication, wandering, inappropriate judgment (Poor judgment), aggressive outbursts, and inability to follow direction and / or concentrate. client was at very very high risk for injury due to wandering and impaired judgment (Poor judgment), self-deficit due to memory loss, impaired motor skills , fatigue and social isolation, making client a very very high risk for wandering / elopement” with nothing in the records indicating any re-evaluation date.

Nursing Notes indicate when a nurse went to his room to administer medicine, client was not there. The entire facility was checked, including the parking lot, and client was unable to be found at the facility, indicating a complete failure of the facilities’ care plan to monitor client for wandering / elopement and / or to immediately respond to the client’s Wanderguard warnings. N

Client was subsequently found on in the bushes at whereupon he removed his pants and wanted to pee. He was taken to a Hospital Emergency Room by the police. His family was then notified. Client suffered a heart attack.

Facility tried to cover above the elopement, injuries and hospital stay by changing their records.

The Peck Law Group fairly early in the litigation was able to resolve this matter for $375,000.00

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Written by Adam Peck

Expertise: Personal Injury

Adam J. Peck, ESQ is a principal with Peck Law Group, APC. In 2008, Mr. Adam Peck received his Juris Doctorate from Whittier Law School where he graduated Cum Laude. His practice is primarily dedicated to representing Elders, Dependent Adults, along with their loved ones and family members, who have suffered horrific personal injuries.