Although a comprehensive list of interventions is beyond the scope of this article, actions to maximize resident safety and elopement prevention should correspond to those risks that are identified by the assessment.

■ Environmental measures should focus on creating a safe living environment and walking areas with secure boundaries. All facilities should have a functional alarm system for egresses, stairwells, and elevators.

■ Brightly lit, uncluttered paths with several rest areas (both indoors and outdoors) should be established.

■ Barrier cautions and camouflaging of doors and doorknobs can help limit departures, while decorations that provide positive distractions can act as a deterrent.

■ Safety locks that prevent access to hazardous materials should be used, and restricting window openings is vital.

■ Elopement drills should be conducted on a regular basis, but not less than semi-annually.

While electronic monitoring devices play a crucial role in elopement prevention, they have limitations. Staff members’ desensitization to the alarms or failure to verify bracelet placement can reduce their effectiveness. Therefore, other nontechnological measures that must also be utilized, such as frequent resident rounds, increased staffing, resident sign-in/out logs, and housing residents in areas with higher visibility, are some of these essential strategies.

Use of photographs and other visual identifiers also aids in elopement prevention.