Clients and AWOL
- Living for Today
- Feb 28, 2021
- 1 min read
When a client goes AWOL that means they leave or are absent without notice or permission.
Elopement is an act of leaving a safe area, done by a person with a mental disorder or cognitive impairment. Client and staff safety is most important.
1) Give two examples of things/incentives that can be said or done to prevent AWOL from happening. Describe how you would manage an AWOL situation.
When a client is on the verge of elopement one incentive that can be used is reminding the resident of the consequences of going AWOL and how it can affective other aspects of their lives, such as interfering with perhaps a personal goal of theirs.
Another incentive is that to remind them as well that they are in a safe place with people that care about their well being and safety and leaving alone could be potentially dangerous.
those would personally be the incentives I would use and have found effective in the past.
It is important to attempt to communicate with your client, get them to deescalate and redirect if you can manage it. After getting to know a client you can figure out what they do/don't like and figure out what coping skills to utilize for each client (ie. a walk, crafts, talking, PRN, etc.)
Communicating with the client asking if they would like to take a walk or watch movies to keep them distracted or having another staff to step in.
Some ways to prevent an AWOL can be communicating with the resident in order to allow them to express their feelings and to further understand the resident, take them for a walk to clear their head, or suggest an activity to keep them busy.
Its very important to know your client behaviors,communication with your co.workers,if you see that the client needs help like a simple thing talking to them,if its a violent situation call 911 and manager.