A very dangerous side effect of Alzheimer's disease is the disappearing act. Thousands of families deal with a loved one with Alzheimer's disease going missing every year (according to the US Alzheimer's Association, 6 out of 10 people with the disease wander!). Many people with Alzheimer's disease come to a stage in their illness where they can't think clearly and start wandering off. They may become distracted and leave, or try to follow a familiar route somewhere instinctively, or find themselves in a place they don't recognize, such as a hospital, and want to get back home, and wander off without someone knowing. What to do to help prevent the wandering of a person with Alzheimer's?
It's important to first acknowledge that this type of safety risk has a high chance of happening, and then plan to avoid it. The Canadian Alzheimer's Association states in its research that there's a 50% chance of a person with Alzheimer disease or related dementia, lost for more than 12 hours, of being found injured or dead from hypothermia, dehydration or drowning. With these bleak statistics in mind, make sure you start keeping track of the very regular habits of your loved one.
Does your loved one get lost and confused in crowds? Do they take a walk every afternoon? What errands do they run, and what days? How do they travel, by car or bus? What medications do they take, and when? These are all great questions to help you determine the wandering risks.
Start by ensuring their wallet and/or purse is full of information such as their address, phone number, and ID. Make sure they have a bracelet or tag with them, at all times, to show they have Alzheimer's disease and/or memory loss.
As a caregiver it is best to know their common route especially in early stages. Accompany them often on their walking and errand routes, so you're sure they know where to go instinctively. Make sure to accompany them to such places as busy malls or doctors' offices. If the person with Alzheimer dementia is appearing not sure of their driving skills, and route-finding skills, find them another way to travel and stop them from driving. (Feel free to contact me for ideas on this.)
In later stages, a very good way to safely care for your loved one with Alzheimer's is to supplement your care hours with an in home companion. Many home care businesses provide 24/7 caregiver services, and you can take advantage of someone being present at any time of the day including during the night, when restless wandering may happen. Also, keep updated and clear photos of your loved one, and provide it to hired caregivers, along with other detailed personal information necessary for best care. Lastly, you may want to consider making a distinguishing mark on the soles of their shoes and photo copy the bottom of the shoes. This may help in tracking efforts if need be.
A most important action to take is to register your loved one with the nation-wide RCMP and Canadian Alzheimer Society supported program called Safely Home® Register at www.safelyhome.ca. For $35 your loved one gets an ID bracelet and ID cards, you'll get a caregiver handbook, and you can update your loved one's file as needed.
Keep your loved one's tracks covered, and you'll have solutions before a problem occurs!
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