The family of a deceased nursing home patient has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Hunter Acres Caring Center and other affiliated entities.  The lawsuit comes after a March 18, 2010 incident in which the patient wandered from the Missouri nursing home onto the nearby train track where she was struck and killed by a freight train.

Wandering tragedies such as this are more common than many would like to believe. Many nursing home patients, particularly those suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's, may have a tendency to wander or elope from facilities.  

Consequently, nursing homes should identify those patients who are at risk for wandering and implement necessary safeguards to assure their safety.  Common wandering safeguards include:

• Installing door alarms
• Re-directing patients who have a tendency to wander
• Using lock and other restrictive devices for patients who have a history of wandering
• Adequately staffing facilities so staff can properly keep tabs on patients whereabouts

My colleague David Terry is representing the family in this matter and I am extremely confident that David will get to the heart of the facilities errors as discovery in the lawsuits progresses.

Related:

Sikeston nursing home resident dies from injuries after being hit by train Southeast Missourian, March 19, 2010

Son of woman killed by train files wrongful death lawsuit against nursing home Heartland News, September 21, 2010

Keith Kinder v. Hunter Acres Caring Center, Inc. (PDF)