This course combines video and written narration to discuss elopement and wandering in patients, especially those in long-term care settings. Caregivers must understand the potential for harm for those patients that wander and must take every precaution to prevent unsafe wandering and elopement. You will review identifying at-risk patients; performing assessments; recognizing & documenting wandering behaviors; implementing prevention strategies; and what to do if a patient wanders from the facility or unit.

At the completion of this course the reader will be able to:

1. Define the terms wandering and elopement.
2. Determine the difference between safe and unsafe wandering.
3. Identify triggers of unsafe wandering.
4. Assess new residents for at-risk behaviors
5. Describe the importance of periodic and ongoing reassessment
6. Identify wandering prevention strategies
7. Discuss the importance of electronic methods of intervention
8. Discuss the steps to take when a resident missing
9. Discuss the steps to take when that resident Is found