Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced on January 8, 2026, the resolution of litigation involving an assisted living facility and its owners following repeated noncompliance with door-alarm requirements at the facility they operated.
The State’s involvement followed the death of a resident in June 2024. His daughter had placed him in the facility after searching for a provider capable of addressing her father’s dementia-related wandering risk. Shortly after his admission, the resident walked out the facility’s front door and was found deceased two days later. Before and on the day of the elopement, the Arizona Department of Health Services determined that the facility did not have properly functioning door alarms on all required egress doors.
The State intervened in a lawsuit filed by the resident’s daughter and alleged violations of the Adult Protective Services Act and the Consumer Fraud Act. According to the State, the defendants’ repeated failure to ensure functioning door alarms contributed to the resident’s death.
The judgment, entered in Maricopa County Superior Court, requires the owners—who reside in Iowa—to divest from the facility. They are also enjoined from engaging in any activities or investments involving the provision of care to vulnerable adults in Arizona for five years. After that period, they must notify the Attorney General’s Office of any application submitted to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Attorney General Mayes stated that Arizona law requires assisted living facilities to maintain door alarms because they are a critical safeguard against tragedies involving resident elopement. She emphasized that alarms are only effective when properly installed, maintained, and supported by adequately trained staff. She urged all assisted living facilities in Arizona—particularly those providing memory care—to prioritize these safety measures, noting that residents with dementia are at heightened risk of wandering and that functioning alarms can provide crucial time to prevent serious harm or death.
Compliance Perspective
Issue
Facilities must identify and assess residents’ risk of leaving without staff notification and implement interventions to mitigate this risk. This includes clear policies and procedures for assessing, monitoring, and managing residents at risk of elopement. Early assessment is essential: residents should be evaluated upon admission, at least quarterly, and following any change in condition. Interventions for at-risk residents should be incorporated into their comprehensive care plans, and staff must document their implementation. Facilities should also include protocols in their disaster and emergency preparedness plans for locating a missing resident. A critical element of elopement prevention is ensuring that all safety alarms, including door alarms, are functioning properly and that staff are trained to respond promptly.
Discussion Points
- Review and, if necessary, update policies and procedures related to resident elopement. Policies should include protocols for identifying at-risk residents, staffing and monitoring requirements, and security measures such as door alarms and surveillance systems. Facilities may consider consulting with an experienced external reviewer to evaluate current practices, identify potential gaps, and recommend enhancements that strengthen compliance and safety measures.
- Provide regular training to staff on monitoring residents, particularly those with cognitive or physical impairments, and on responding to elopement risks. Med-Net Academy offers the course Elopement Risk and Prevention Measures, which covers topics such as the difference between elopement and wandering, the importance of early assessment, common risk factors, safe and sensitive monitoring techniques, the development and use of response plans, and proper steps to take after an elopement has been resolved.
- Perform periodic audits to confirm that elopement risk assessments are conducted on admission, updated quarterly or as needed, and properly documented in care plans. Audits should also verify that door alarms and other security systems are functioning and that staff are following established procedures. Facilities may engage an external consultant to conduct mock audits or targeted assessments, helping identify potential compliance or safety gaps before they result in adverse outcomes.
*This news alert has been prepared by Med-Net Concepts, Inc. for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice.*