Just because someone is older doesn’t mean they lack agility. Having dementia doesn’t mean a person won’t leave the building with purpose. A lovely community doesn’t guarantee tenants are calm, happy, and comfortable. A secure living situation may not prevent elopement, wandering, or pacing. Even a beautiful environment might not keep someone satisfied, and planned activities may not be suitable or interesting for all individuals.

1:30pm – 2:45pm CST

When we think of elopement, it’s often associated with dementia. However, elopement is a risk for others too. It’s crucial to regularly identify those at risk and understand that elopement behaviors will change over time. Staff should be trained effectively in preventing elopement and responding quickly if someone goes missing.

Additionally, we need to anticipate reasons for elopement and adapt our approach, environment, and activities to reduce the desire to leave. Elopement can be deadly, underscoring the need for prediction, prevention, and protection to ensure a safe environment for all tenants.

• List modifiable reasons individuals will attempt to elope.
• Identify ways to predict elopement behaviors.
• List person-centered activities that will engage a person to keep them calm and satisfied in their safe environment to assist in reducing elopement risk.
• Describe the difference between pacing, wandering, and elopement and how to protect the tenant specific to those situations.

Who Should Attend
Assisted Living Managers, Administrators, Department Heads, Social Workers, Nurse Leaders, and other staff who may encounter elopement situations. Appropriate for Assisted Living Programs.

Faculty

^{Kari K. Brizendine, PT, CWS, CDP, CADDCT, CMDCT, Select Rehabilitation} 

Kari, a Physical Therapist, is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College in Virginia. She is an education specialist for Select Rehabilitation, one of our nation’s largest long-term care rehab providers. Kari has spent more than 40 years working with the geriatric population in a multitude of clinical settings where she has been responsible for patient care, clinical programming, education, and staff development. She chaired and developed a wound team at a state facility for individuals with developmental disabilities and has provided wound care in a multitude of clinical settings including acute and long-term care. Her most recent interest has been working with Artificial Intelligence as it relates to fall prevention and reduction. She is a certified wound specialist through the American Board of Wound Management, a certified dementia practitioner and trainer through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners, a certified Montessori dementia care professional and she is LSVT big certified. Her predominant interest has been in serving those with dementia, their caregivers, health care providers and families, with the message that each person with dementia continues to have a life that matters, and that quality is possible if we all join that person using his or her personal interests, residual skills, and memories in what she calls “My Way”. She is the co-author ofMy Past is Now My Future: A Practical Guide to Dementia Possible Care and author of Though You Do Not Know My Name I Know You Love Me Just the Same.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

What’s Included

Registration fee includes digital handout, one connection to the live webinar and CE certificate.  A recording of this webinar is NOT included in the registration fee.

Approved for 1.25 PC CEU (LNHA/RCAL Administrators) TA# 015-24-26