Memory Care Systems Safety: Reducing Harm Through Proactive Risk Practices

Event Schedule by Time Zone: 
Pacific: 10 AM to 11 AM | Mountain: 11 AM to 12 PM | Central: 12 PM to 1 PM | Eastern: 1 PM to 2 PM

Residents with cognitive impairment and memory-related conditions face an increased risk of wandering and elopement, making prevention and response planning a critical patient safety and risk management priority. This session will explore evidence-based strategies for identifying at-risk residents, developing organization-wide prevention programs, and implementing effective preparedness and response protocols. Attendees will learn how robust assessment processes, staff training, communication pathways, and post-incident analyses can help reduce the likelihood of hazardous wandering events while supporting regulatory compliance and operational resilience. Through practical guidance, real-world examples, and actionable recommendations, participants will gain the tools needed to strengthen safety systems, protect vulnerable residents, and foster a culture of accountability in memory care and long-term care environments.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify residents at risk for hazardous wandering and elopement using validated assessment tools and risk identification strategies.
2. Develop an organization-wide approach to preventing wandering and elopement events through effective policies, staff education, and system-based interventions.
3. Implement preparedness and response protocols, including drills, communication pathways, and post-incident analyses, to improve resident safety and support regulatory compliance.

Speaker:

Georgia Reiner, MS, CPHRM, RISQ, is a Lead Safety Consultant for ECRI and the ISMP Patient Safety Organization. In her role, Georgia manages patient safety memberships by collaborating with hospital associations, health systems, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare organizations. Georgia brings more than ten years of experience across healthcare, social services, and professional liability insurance, giving her a practical, systems focused perspective on the challenges clinicians and safety teams face every day. Her work emphasizes translating risk management principles into actionable strategies that support safer care delivery, reduce organizational risk, and improve quality outcomes.

Jean Harpel, MSN, RN, GCNS, is a geriatric clinical nurse specialist and is presently the Operations Manager of Senior Care at ECRI where she provides environment-of-care safety and security and quality and risk management consultation to aging services communities across the United States. She educates leadership and staff on how to implement risk management systems within their organizations. As part of the ECRI consultation services she works with aging services organizations to help reduce future risk and harm to their residents as well as helping achieve focus on developing a culture of safety and accountability. She has developed institutional- based learning programs utilizing electronic media, traditional lectures, just-in-time activities, and bedside initiatives that have focused on safe and efficient care delivery. She has written, implemented and reviewed policies and procedures for aging services communities. She has presented at workshops and conferences on a wide array of risk management topics for aging services providers and healthcare professionals for more than twenty-five years.

Member: $39.00
Non-Member: $99.00