Portland Attorneys for Wandering, Elopement & Abandonment In Nursing Homes

Standing Up for the Most Vulnerable
One Case at a Time

Placing the safety of your loved one in the hands of a nursing home, assisted living facility, or other institution requires a bond of trust that is unfortunately sometimes broken. Without proper supervision, residents may wander off to dangerous locations — either inside or outside the facility — risking injuries and harm that would have been avoided, such as…

  • Trip and falls
  • Broken bones
  • Hip injuries
  • Wandering into traffic
  • Head injury
  • Fatal injuries
  • Exposure

If you suspect that your loved one is not being properly supervised, talk to facility management immediately. And if someone you loved was injured due to improper nursing home supervision, talk to Pickett Dummigan Weingart. Our wandering and elopement specialists are ready to investigate and pursue justice for your loved one. We offer compassionate guidance and answers to your questions and will make sure responsible parties are held accountable for the injuries they caused through lack of proper supervision and care.

$630

Thousand

Confidential six figure settlement on behalf of a resident who escaped from the facility and rolled downhill in a wheelchair resulting in multiple fractures.

$200

Thousand

Confidential six figure settlement on behalf of a resident who accessed courtyard area during inclement weather.

What is Wandering and Elopement?

  • Wandering happens when a nursing home resident walks around the facility grounds without supervision. 
  • Elopement refers to a resident wandering off of the facility property entirely. 

Wandering and elopement are most often seen in patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or otherwise diminished faculties. It’s vital that nursing home staff keep a close eye and know where their residents are at all times, especially those with cognitive impairments.

Risk Factors for Wandering and Elopement

Keep an eye out for signs that your loved one’s care home isn’t taking the proper steps to ensure residents won’t and can’t wander, including:

 

1. Improper Staffing. Poorly trained or unqualified employees, perhaps hired without proper background checks, can compromise resident safety. Understaffing is also a common issue — fewer staff leads to fewer eyes on the residents.

2. Lack of Security. The facility should not only have adequate security systems in place but a team trained and able to monitor all exits and entrances, and respond to alarms. 

3. Prevention Measures. When residents are left alone, they are more likely to start wandering. Prevention plans often include a regular schedule of recreational activities, visitation opportunities, and other engaging activities to avoid restlessness among residents.

Why Choose Us?

At Pickett Dummigan Weingart, we work tirelessly to represent the rights of those who have suffered injuries due to wandering and elopement. We investigate not only the incident, but also the facility’s history of violating federal and state law. If a pattern of neglect exists that has resulted in residents wandering, we move quickly to pursue an injury claim and fight to maximize compensation.

With over 200 years of combined experience and long-established relationships with doctors, nurses, and other medical experts, we have the knowledge, skills, and resources to successfully represent your family.

• Hear from Our Clients •

Excellent client communications, taking the time to educate us and setting realistic expectations. The results exceeded expectations.

-Craig Spiezle

Mr. Dummigan and his staff are very professional and caring. They took a case that no one else would…and put their energy and resources into the case to see it come to a successful close. It was an unfortunate series of events that led me to Mr. Dummigan’s office, but I was thankful for the closure his office brought to my situation.

-Lisa Marie

I could not have asked for a better legal team than all three of you. Thank you again for the time and energy that you and your staff were willing to spend on my behalf, it made these last two years of my life a little more tolerable.

-Sherry Wells

Quick Answers from Our Attorneys

Q: What can I expect when working with your firm?

“You pay a lot of money to ensure your loved one is taken care of — when that doesn’t happen, it can cause feelings of betrayal, anger, and heartbreak. Working with an experienced lawyer will help you find answers, hold the responsible party accountable, and create peace after a traumatic situation. We’ll do our best to make the process simple and are always here to answer questions. We’ll work tirelessly to provide you with the highest quality representation possible.”

— R. Brendan Dummigan

3 Steps to Justice for Your Loved One

Our attorneys won’t stand for the mistreatment of the elders in our community. We can help hold the people who harmed your loved one accountable for their actions.

1. Get in touch 

Fill out our contact form so we can schedule a time to talk.

2. Free Consultation

We’ll listen to your situation and answer any questions.

3. Get Justice

If you have a case, our attorneys will dedicate their full attention to your case.

Remember, we’ll never charge a fee until we win your case.

schedule

• A Free Consultation •