Nursing home lawyer, Jonathan Rosenfeld, interviewed for article on how to reduce wandering nursing home patients. In order to improve patient care, nursing homes need to address basic preventative measures such as:

Ensuring adequate staff is dedicated to supervising patients at risk for wandering.

Placing wandering risk patients on the first floor of the residence rather than an upper level. This reduces the risk of them falling down stairs or a window.

Invest in quality door, window, and screen locks.

Make sure these locks are used in high-risk areas (e.g. stairwells, exits, etc.) and check these locks regularly to ensure they are operating properly.

In addition, nursing homes can further improve patient care by implementing some new technology including: RFID Provides Real-Time Patient Tracking, Security and bed and chair alarms

More sophisticated technology solutions include wireless and RFID (radio frequency identification) door security and patient tracking solutions. Basic RFID door security solutions include RFID readers, tags, and wireless keypads. With systems like these, patients are assigned an RFID bracelet when they are admitted to a facility. When these bracelets get within range of the readers placed above designated exit or danger doors, an alarm immediately sounds and the door is locked automatically.