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San Antonio Nursing Home Elopement Law Firm

Name: Janicek Law
Address: 1100 NE Interstate 410 Loop #600, San Antonio, Texas, 78209
Telephone: 210-366-4949

May 15, 2023
Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect

Nursing home elopement is probably not what you think it is. Nursing home elopement occurs when an elderly person wanders away from their long-term care facility. There are many reasons why an elderly person may wander off, and most commonly, it occurs due to dementia-related issues. Nursing home staff members are supposed to provide top-notch care and a safe environment for all residents, especially those who have a high risk of elopement. Wandering patients have a high risk of suffering serious injuries and even death. So if nursing home facilities fail to prevent and handle elopement cases, the family members of the wandering patient can definitely sue.

If your elderly loved one has suffered serious injury, illness, or death due to nursing home abuse and neglect, you have grounds to file a civil lawsuit on their behalf. Our San Antonio nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers and San Antonio nursing home wrongful death lawyers have decades of combined experience in helping clients obtain justice and financial compensation for their suffering. We can do the same for you too. Call 210-366-4949 to schedule a free consultation at our law firm today.

What is Elopement in A Nursing Home in Texas?

The elopement definition that most of us know is when a young couple has a spur-of-the-moment wedding without parental knowledge or consent – usually in another city or state.

However, that’s not what nursing home elopement is. Nursing home elopement is when an elderly patient wanders away from their nursing home facility or assisted living facility.

Why Does Nursing Home Elopement Happen?

Most elopement cases involve nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive impairments. In fact, 60% of elderly patients with dementia-related issues wander away from their long-term care facilities at least once, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. However, elderly residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s often wander (or attempt to wander) more than once.

Nursing home residents may also wander due to the following reasons:

Medication changes
Taking too much medication
Unwelcome change in their environment or lifestyle
Living in a nursing home for the first time
Unmet physical or psychological needs
Illness
Confusion or delirium
Elevated levels of physical or emotional stress
Lack of sleep
Missing a family member or a friend and wanting to visit them

If your loved one eloped from a nursing home because they were overmedicated, contact a San Antonio medication error lawyer for a free consultation.

Nursing Home Elopement Risk in Texas

Some elderly residents have a higher risk for elopement than others. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are the biggest risk factors for wandering, but other risk factors include:

Sleep disorders
Any type of mental impairment such as confusion, delirium, anxiety, PTSD, depression, schizophrenia, etc.
Aggressive tendencies
Physical conditions that require many types of medications
Nursing home abuse and neglect
Loneliness
Boredom
Prior incidents of wandering

Dangers Associated With Nursing Home Elopement

Nursing home elopement is incredibly dangerous. Wandering away from a long-term care facility can result in serious injury and even death. An elderly person could suffer from the following issues by wandering away:

Fall injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones
Malnutrition and dehydration
Overexertion
Poor weather events
Busy streets and sidewalks with lots of traffic, pedestrians, and bicycles which raise the risks of accidents and injuries
A medical emergency such as a heart attack
Drowning
Medication withdrawal
Death

If your loved one eloped from a nursing home and sustained serious injuries from falling, contact a San Antonio nursing home falls lawyer for a free case evaluation.

Is Nursing Home Elopement a Sign of Abuse or Neglect?

Nursing home staff members can take every possible measure to prevent a patient leaving the facility, and the patient could still leave anyway. But yes, elopement can indicate that nursing home neglect and abuse is occurring. Poor patient care that results in hungry, thirsty, bored, lonely, sick, and stressed patients can lead to a greater risk of patient wandering.

Texas Nursing Home Elopement REporting

Because many of the residents in nursing homes have at least one of the aforementioned elopement risks, the facilities must prioritize necessary security measures, personal safety needs, and overall patient care. At minimum, the federal nursing home regulations require nursing homes to do the following:

Create a comprehensive and individualized care plan for each patient.
Make sure that all residents are properly supervised and have equipment to prevent falls, choking injuries, etc.
Create the best possible quality of life for each resident.
Treat all residents with respect and dignity.
Utilize all nursing home resources efficiently and effectively.

For residents that have a clear history of elopement, nursing homes should take the following safety precautions:

Ensure there is adequate lighting in all areas of the facility.
Have a circular floor plan.
Have quality alarm systems that work.
Remove all slip, trip, and fall hazards like cord, debris, rugs, etc.
Ensure that residents have wristbands that indicate they’re at high risk for elopement.
Ensure that the facility is properly staffed not only to provide quality care, but to remain vigilant of all resident’s behaviors.
Regularly check on all patients, especially those who tend to wander off.
Keep updated records about all residents’ elopement histories.
Change all door codes on a regular basis.
Make sure all nursing home doors have video surveillance and security personnel.
Set up a proper exit procedure for all residents and visitors.

Nursing home facilities should also provide top-notch psychiatric care for all residents, but especially high-risk residents. This means that residents should have access to therapists – to discuss their thoughts and feelings – and psychiatrists – to ensure that they are properly medicated for their psychological and neurological problems.

Additionally, there are many tools that nursing homes can use to determine how likely a patient is to wander off. One of these tools is called the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI), which is a rating scale that can determine how likely a patient is to engage in 29 possible behaviors, one of them being elopement. From there, nursing homes can have a better idea of what security measures, activities, and medications can help prevent these possible behaviors.

Can You Sue for Nursing Home Elopement in Texas?

Yes, you can sue for nursing home elopement, especially if you can prove that it was the result of nursing home neglect and abuse, and especially if the resident became injured or ill during the elopement. You can also sue the assisted living facility if they knew that their resident was prone to wandering off, and yet they still failed to implement elopement prevention tactics. These tactics require lots of time, resources, and proper staffing which – unfortunately – many nursing homes don’t have.

The bottom line is that it’s the job of the nursing home to provide top-notch care for their residents, and if they fail to do this – which results in injury, illness, or death of the patient – family members of these patients have the right to sue.

Contact a nursing home or assisted living lawyer in San Antonio to learn more.

Damages for Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

San Antonio nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers can help family members recover financial compensation for the following types of damages:

Medical bills
Rehabilitation bills
Physical pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Funeral and burial expenses if the elopement results in wrongful death

San Antonio Nursing Home Elopement Attorney

If you have substantial proof that your loved one’s assisted living facility is acting negligently – which results in a dangerous elopement incident – you have grounds to file a civil lawsuit. San Antonio nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers are passionate about protecting the rights of elderly residents and ensuring that they receive the best care possible in their final years of life. Call 210-366-4949 to schedule a free consultation at our law firm today.

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   Natasha Garza 
 31 August 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had an amazing experience with Janicek Law from beginning to end. Karen Rangel recommended us to Cassidy Muniz, and we are so thankful she did. Cassidy assisted myself, my husband, and our two daughters, and all four of us are extremely happy with the experience and outcome. Cassidy truly went above and beyond for our entire family. She was always responsive, patient, professional, and helpful, and she kept us informed throughout the entire process. Everything went smoothly, we had no issues, and she made what could have been a stressful situation so much easier for us. The entire team at Janicek Law is amazing, and we felt like we were in great hands from start to finish. We are incredibly grateful to Karen for recommending Cassidy and especially grateful to Cassidy for everything she did for our family. We would 100% recommend Cassidy and Janicek Law to anyone looking for a team that truly cares about their clients. Thank you all so much for everything! ❤️
  
 
       
   Alex McWhirter 
 18 August 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We were referred to Janicek Law firm from a lawyer in Brownsville, who pointed out that they are experts in the field of medical malpractice and I am so grateful. We worked with Andrew and Gaby and they were dedicated and worked hard to get us the best possible outcome. They kept us informed and updated through every step of the process, always with a friendly and very professional disposition. Despite language and distance challenges, they accommodated all of our needs, and I would highly recommend Janicek Law Firm. They made a bad situation better by listening to our concerns, helping us through a sorrowful time for my family, and advising on how to defeat our opponent. For any families that have a beloved and elderly relative who suffered in the hands of callous and neglectful medical institutions, Janicek Law Firm were amazing in advocating for our relative and making these corporate entities accountable. Thank you, Andrew and Gaby, we really appreciated your help!
  
 
       
   Heidi Soto 
 8 August 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mr Bernal and Karen were great. They always kept me up to date on all that was going on at all times. When it came down to mediation Mr Bernal knew exactly what to do and say to make things clear with the insurance company who wanted to take advantage of me. I highly recommend Mr Bernal if you ever are in an accident. He will definitely take care of you.
  
 
       
   Lucy 
 30 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am beyond thankful for everyone at Janicek law for the professionalism, dedication, and support you all have showed throughout my lawsuit. From the very beginning, you all made a difficult and stressful situation much easier to navigate! Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, keeping me informed every step of the way and making this process as stress free as possible! I can without a doubt definitely recommend this law firm!
  
 
       
   Iris Contreras 
 16 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have started this review so many times, but every time I do, I realize there simply aren't enough words to thank the people at Janicek Law. Almost 3 years ago, my world ended. I lost my son, Zayden—the greatest love of my life. My other son, Zy, witnessed the unimaginable that day. He carries those memories with him every single day, and we are forever grateful that he is still here because we very easily could have lost him too. Our family didn't just experience a tragedy—we experienced trauma that changed us forever. When I first met the team at Janicek Law, I wasn't just grieving. I was broken. I was a mother trying to survive the unthinkable while helping my surviving son heal from something no child should ever witness. I didn't know if I had the strength to keep fighting. There were so many moments when I wanted to give up. Every deposition, every conversation, every piece of evidence forced me to relive the worst day of my life. I told them I couldn't do it anymore. But they never let me forget why we were fighting. They reminded me that Zayden deserved justice. They reminded me that Zy deserved justice. They believed in my family even when I couldn't believe in myself. What makes Janicek Law different is that this was never just a job to them. They never made me feel like another client or another case number. They knew my children by name. They celebrated Zayden's life. They cried with us, prayed with us, hugged us, encouraged us, and walked beside us through every heartbreaking step. They carried a piece of this burden with us, and I will never forget that. Even after the case was over, they didn't disappear. They still answer my calls. They still help me with paperwork. They still check on me. They still make me feel like my family matters. That's something you cannot fake. That's love. Somewhere along the way, I stopped seeing them as "my attorneys" and started seeing them as family. And I truly believe I have a family for life. No amount of money will ever bring my little boy back. I would trade every penny to hear his laugh one more time. But because of Janicek Law, I have peace knowing that his life mattered, his story was heard, and that they fought for my boys with everything they had. From the deepest part of a mother's heart... thank you. Thank you for loving my children. Thank you for never giving up on us when I wanted to give up myself. Thank you for standing beside us through the darkest chapter of our lives. You gave my family more than legal representation—you gave us hope, dignity, and people we will love for the rest of our lives. You helped a grieving mother find the strength to be the voice her son no longer had. In a world that can feel so unfair, you reminded me that there are still genuinely good people. We love each and every one of you, and we will never forget what you did for Zayden, for Zy, and for us.❤️
  
 
       
   Destiny Sanchez 
 14 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My friend Karen referred us to Janicek law firm and I am so grateful. We worked with cassidy moving forward and she went above and beyond while helping me with my accident case. From the very beginning, she was professional, knowledgeable, and always available to answer my questions. She kept me informed throughout the entire process and made a stressful situation much easier to handle. Her dedication, hard work, and attention to detail truly made a difference in my case. I am incredibly grateful for everything she did for me and my family. I would highly recommend Cassidy and Janicek Law Firm, who genuinely cares about clients and fights for the best possible outcome. Thank you cassidy for everything!
  
 
       
   Virginia-Ann Bernal 
 8 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. After my accident, I felt overwhelmed and had no idea what to do next. Choosing Janicek Law Firm was one of the best decisions I could have made. From the very beginning, Philip Bernal,  Cassidy Muniz, and Karen Rangel took the time to explain the process, answer my questions, and make sure I always knew what to expect. Cassidy and Karen were  absolutely incredible throughout my entire case. They coordinated my medical care, helped with scheduling appointments, communicated with my insurance, and was always available whenever I needed guidance or reassurance. Their compassion and dedication truly made a difficult time so much easier. The entire team worked hard to build my case, keeping me informed every step of the way, and ultimately secured a settlement I was very happy with. More importantly, they gave me the peace of mind to focus on healing instead of worrying about the legal process. I can’t thank Philip, Cassidy, Karen and everyone at Janicek Law Firm enough for their professionalism, kindness, and commitment. If you’re looking for a law firm that genuinely cares about its clients, I highly recommend them. THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!
  
 
       
   Corey Sil 
 29 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Mr. Skemp and Gaby took care of everything and made my suit for Wrongful Death as easy as possible. I couldn’t have done any of this with out them! They honored and represented my Mother to the fullest and for that I am greatful! G. Silvas
  
 
       
   Jasub Baez 
 22 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Good lawyers .
  
 
       
   Aldo Salinas 
 10 June 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I highly recommend the team at Janicek Law. From the very beginning, they provided outstanding legal service that was both professional and deeply compassionate. The entire staff is incredibly knowledgeable, and they made a complex process feel manageable and stress-free. It’s rare to find a firm that combines such high-level legal expertise with a genuinely friendly, client-focused approach. I am very grateful for their support and would choose them again without hesitation.
  
 
 
 
  
 
   Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 358 reviews

Janicek Law handled my case with such professionalism. I was always kept in the loop about what was going on with my case. Cassidy Muniz is amazing at what she does and I really felt like they actually cared about me and my case. Highly recommend Janicek Law Firm!

I could not be happier with the service and compassion from the Janicek Law Firm. They were friendly, responsive and knowledgeable throughout the entire process. I would give ten stars if I could – They are excellent!

Janicek Law was patient and understanding to my situation – it’s a fight – but they would make my father proud. Thanks you for taking the time to look over my case and speaking up for my family.

Beth and Mona have been truly helpful with our case! They have really done an amazing job. I would highly recommend them to anyone I know.

Incredibly talented and knowledgeable attorneys that will fight negligent nursing homes and bring Justice to the elderly and their families.

I am very happy and pleased with the Janicek Law Firm. I had such a difficult time finding someone to look into my case. The Janicek Law Firm has been very professional and attentive to my questions. They will take the time and review your situation and have been very dedicated in reviewing my case.