Protecting Michigan Families When Nursing Homes Fail to Keep Residents Safe
When families place a parent or loved one in a nursing home, they do so with trust. You expect the facility to provide supervision, safety, and compassionate care. Unfortunately, many residents — especially those with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other cognitive impairments — are at high risk for wandering and elopement.
When nursing homes fail to monitor residents properly, the consequences can be devastating. Residents who leave unsupervised can suffer serious injuries, exposure, or even death. At Olsman MacKenzie Peacock, our Detroit nursing home elopement attorneys have decades of experience holding negligent facilities accountable and helping families recover compensation for harm caused by wandering and elopement.
Call 1-800-366-8653 today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Michigan nursing home elopement attorney. We never charge a fee unless we recover compensation for you.
What Is Nursing Home Wandering and Elopement?
In the context of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, wandering and elopement describe two different but closely related safety failures:
- Wandering occurs when a resident moves about without purpose or supervision, sometimes straying into unsafe or restricted areas of the facility. Wandering often affects residents with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, who may be confused about their surroundings or searching for something familiar.
- Elopement is more serious. It happens when a resident manages to leave the facility entirely without staff awareness or permission. This can occur through an unlocked door, an unmonitored exit, or even while staff are distracted.
Both situations are extremely dangerous. A confused or medically fragile resident who leaves the protection of a secure environment may:
- Enter a roadway and risk being struck by a vehicle
- Fall and suffer broken bones, head trauma, or other serious injuries
- Become lost outdoors in freezing cold, heat, or storms, leading to exposure or death
- Miss scheduled medications, oxygen, or medical treatments needed to survive
- Be victimized or otherwise endangered due to their inability to care for themselves
These are not unforeseeable accidents — they are known risks in nursing home care. That is why facilities are required to assess which residents are at risk, implement elopement-prevention policies, and ensure adequate staffing, training, and monitoring.
If a Michigan nursing home allowed your loved one to wander or elope, the facility may be legally responsible for the harm that followed. Call us today at 1-800-366-8653 to learn about your rights and legal options for holding the negligent care provider accountable.
Common Causes of Elopement in Michigan Nursing Homes
Elopement and wandering rarely happen by accident — they usually point to serious negligence, such as:
- Inadequate staffing levels
- Broken or missing security alarms
- Failing to identify residents at risk and create care plans
- Negligent monitoring and bed checks
- Lack of staff training to respond to elopement
Our Detroit nursing home wandering lawyers investigate these failures and hold facilities accountable.
Who Is at Risk of Wandering and Elopement?
Certain residents face an especially high risk of wandering or eloping from a nursing home facility, including those with:
- Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
- Cognitive impairments or memory loss
- A history of wandering behavior
- Mental health conditions
- Physical frailty or confusion after medication changes
Nursing homes and other care providers must assess each resident’s risk and create care plans to prevent wandering or elopement. Failure to do so can make the facility legally responsible.
What Types Of Damages Are Available For Nursing Home Elopement Injuries?
When a nursing home resident wanders or elopes, the consequences can be life-changing for both the resident and their family. Under Michigan law, nursing homes and long-term care facilities have a clear duty to keep residents safe. When they fail in that duty, families may pursue a legal claim to recover compensation for the harm caused.
Depending on the circumstances, recoverable damages may include:
- Medical Expenses: Coverage for emergency care, hospital stays, rehabilitation, medications, and any ongoing medical treatment related to the elopement injury.
- Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain, emotional trauma, and loss of dignity endured by your loved one.
- Wrongful Death Damages: If the worst outcome occurs, families may recover damages for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and the emotional and financial impact of losing a loved one.
- Loss of Quality of Life: When injuries prevent a resident from returning to the level of independence or enjoyment they once had.
- Punitive Damages: In cases of gross negligence or reckless disregard for resident safety, additional damages may be awarded to punish the facility and deter similar misconduct in the future.
At Olsman MacKenzie Peacock, our elopement attorneys build strong cases by working with medical professionals, investigators, and witnesses to uncover what went wrong. We fight to hold facilities accountable and to secure the full measure of justice your family deserves.
If your loved one was harmed due to nursing home wandering or elopement, speak with a Michigan nursing home elopement lawyer today at 1-800-366-8653. The consultation is free, and there is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing Home Elopement in Michigan
What should I do if my loved one eloped from a nursing home?
Seek immediate medical care, document the incident, and contact a lawyer. As elopement attorneys with decades of experience, we can step in quickly to preserve evidence and protect your family’s rights.
Can I sue a nursing home for wandering or elopement?
Yes. If a nursing home or long-term care facility fails to take reasonable steps to prevent a resident from wandering or eloping, the facility can be held legally responsible for the harm that results. These cases are often based on negligence, meaning the facility did not meet the standard of care required under Michigan law.
You may have a valid claim if the nursing home:
- Failed to supervise residents adequately — for example, leaving at-risk residents unmonitored near exits.
- Did not secure doors or install alarms to prevent residents from leaving unnoticed.
- Ignored known risk factors, such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or a prior history of wandering.
- Failed to create or follow an individualized care plan that addressed your loved one’s risk of elopement.
- Understaffed or inadequately trained employees, leaving no one responsible for monitoring residents.
When these failures cause injury or death, families may pursue a lawsuit to recover damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, or wrongful death.
What if my loved one has dementia — is the nursing home still responsible?
Yes. Dementia is a known risk factor, and nursing homes must take extra precautions for residents with cognitive conditions.
Are nursing homes required to have elopement prevention systems?
Yes. Facilities should use secure exits, alarms, wander guards, and sufficient staffing to prevent harm.
What if my loved one died after elopement?
If your loved one tragically passed away after eloping from a nursing home, you may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim under Michigan law. These claims are designed to hold the facility accountable when its negligence results in a preventable death.
A wrongful death lawsuit can provide compensation for:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical bills related to the injury before death
- Loss of companionship and emotional support suffered by family members
- Loss of financial support or services your loved one provided
- Pain and suffering your loved one endured before passing
- Punitive damages in cases of reckless or willful misconduct by the facility
Beyond financial recovery, these cases are about seeking justice. Nursing homes know that residents with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other cognitive impairments are at risk for elopement. When they ignore these risks and cut corners on staffing or safety measures, lives are put in danger. Pursuing a wrongful death claim not only brings accountability for your family’s loss but can also drive changes that may save other residents from harm.
If you have lost a parent or loved one due to nursing home elopement, you do not have to face this alone. Call 1-800-366-8653 today to speak with our experienced Michigan nursing home wrongful death attorneys. The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
Why Choose Olsman MacKenzie Peacock?
At Olsman MacKenzie Peacock, we are not just attorneys — we are advocates for Michigan’s most vulnerable residents. For decades, our team has been nationally recognized for fighting elder abuse and nursing home neglect.
- Jules B. Olsman: Founder of the firm and a trial lawyer with more than 40 years of experience, Jules has built a career on holding nursing homes accountable for neglect and abuse. His leadership has shaped elder law in Michigan and beyond.
- Donna M. MacKenzie: A nationally respected advocate, Donna has served as president of both the Michigan Association for Justice and the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan. She is widely recognized for her leadership in nursing home litigation and patient safety reform.
- Emily Peacock: A dynamic voice in elder neglect litigation, Emily will serve as Chair of the American Association for Justice Women Trial Lawyers Caucus (2025–2026). She brings passion and determination to every case, fighting for accountability and justice for Michigan families.
- Lauren Walson: Lauren combines sharp legal skills with compassion for families, representing victims of nursing home abuse and neglect with tireless dedication.
- Michael C. Dennis: Michael is a skilled trial lawyer known for his strategic approach and relentless advocacy on behalf of seniors and their families across Michigan.
- Michaelene Sowinski: Michaelene is committed to protecting vulnerable residents and has focused her career on holding negligent facilities accountable through aggressive litigation.
Our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for families harmed by nursing home negligence. But beyond financial recovery, our mission is to raise the standard of care in long-term facilities and protect seniors throughout Michigan and the nation.
Schedule A Free Consultation With An Experienced Detroit Nursing Home Elopement Lawyer Today
If your loved one was injured or lost their life due to nursing home elopement or wandering in Michigan, don’t wait to take action. These cases require immediate investigation to preserve evidence.
Call Olsman MacKenzie Peacock at 1-800-366-8653 for your free consultation. There is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.