When the last resort is a nursing home, people in Maryland are forced to put their trust in the owners and staff that their loved one is in a safe place where their needs are being met. That sacred trust is frequently broken in U.S. and Maryland nursing homes, because nursing homes are driven by profit motive and do not invest in the staffing levels necessary to ensure the proper supervision of the residents in their care. One of the blessings of modern technology is the ability to find a loved one when we really need it.
To schedule a free case review with a nursing home abuse & neglect lawyer serving Baltimore, call Brown & Barron at (410) 698-1717 or contact us online today!
Most of us are familiar with the technology called GPS (Global Positioning System), which empowers us to track the location of digital devices and those who carry them. This technology is extremely comforting to those with loved ones who are prone to getting confused and lost in their golden years, especially those with dementia. GPS technology empowers our loved ones to check on the location of elderly family members and friends, and, heaven forbid, find them if they should get lost.
GPS Products for Nursing Home Residents/Dementia
What is a GPS Locator and How Do I Get It?
We often use GPS for maps and directions on smart phones and other connected devices, but it can also be used to find an Internet-connected person. Anyone with a connected mobile device, such as a phone, can be located through the GPS network of satellites, cell towers, our devices, and the software that traces data that pinpoints our location continuously, even if we are not actively using the device. GPS is something we all have on our phones, but there are specialized products available for the elderly to locate them if or when they do not consistently carry a phone.
What makes these products special to the elderly is the trackable device and the software that enables the loved one to track them.
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia put us in a situation that requires around-the-clock supervision to ensure our safety. Many families cannot provide this level of care, which is why they resort to nursing homes. Unfortunately, this duty is not always met.
Wandering & Elopement
Wandering and elopement are two common problems at today’s nursing homes. Both terms refer to a situation where a resident is traveling outside of the safe supervision of the nursing home. Wandering means they are unsafely moving within the facility; elopement means they are unsafely traveling outside the facility. In both situations, the resident is essentially lost and at risk of falls, injury, assault, and other dangers. In the case of elopement, there is the added risk of exposure to weather.
To schedule a free case review with a nursing home abuse & neglect lawyer serving Baltimore, call Brown & Barron at (410) 698-1717 or contact us online today!
Brown & Barron has handled many cases involving elopement and wandering at nursing home facilities in Baltimore and Maryland. Our elopement and wandering injury attorneys can help you understand when you have a compensation claim with a strong commitment to our clients and a deep understanding of nursing home requirements.
By accounting for medical expenses and psychological trauma after a wandering incident, the damages in a civil lawsuit may give your family more peace of mind for the future.