Tips for safety for those who wander in the booklet:
* Remove clutter and clear the pathways from room to room to allow the person with AD to move about more freely. * Make sure floors provide good traction for walking or pacing. Use nonskid floor wax or leave floors unpolished. Secure all rug edges, eliminate throw rugs, or install nonskid strips. The person with AD should wear nonskid shoes or sneakers. * Place locks on exit doors high or low on the door out of direct sight. Consider double locks that require a key. Keep a key for yourself and hide one near the door for emergency exit purposes. * Use loosely fitting doorknob covers so that the cover turns instead of the actual knob. Due to the potential hazard they could cause if an emergency exit is needed, locked doors and doorknob covers should be used only when a caregiver is present. * Install safety devices found in hardware stores to limit the distance that windows can be opened. * If possible, secure the yard with fencing and a locked gate. Use door alarms such as loose bells above the door or devices that ring when the doorknob is touched or the door is opened. * Divert the attention of the person with AD away from using the door by placing small scenic posters on the door; placing removable gates, curtains, or brightly colored streamers across the door; or wallpapering the door to match any adjoining walls. * Place STOP, DO NOT ENTER, or CLOSED signs in strategic areas on doors. * Reduce clues that symbolize departure such as shoes, keys, suitcases, coats, or hats. * Obtain a medical identification bracelet for the person with AD with the words "memory loss" inscribed along with an emergency telephone number. Place the bracelet on the person's dominant hand to limit the possibility of removal, or solder the bracelet closed. Check with the local Alzheimer's Association about the Safe Return program. * Place labels in garments to aid in identification. * Keep an article of the person's worn, unwashed clothing in a plastic bag to aid in finding someone with the use of dogs. * Notify neighbors of the person's potential to wander or become lost. Alert them to contact you or the police immediately if the individual is seen alone and on the move. * Give local police, neighbors, and relatives a recent picture, along with the name and pertinent information about the person with AD, as a precaution should he or she become lost. Keep extra pictures on hand. * Consider making an up-to-date home video of the person with AD.
Another site recommended:
Cover doors and locks with cloth or paint to disguise them and install deadbolts high or low on exterior doors to make it difficult for your loved one to wander outside. Remove locks in bathrooms and bedrooms to ensure that he or she does not lock themselves inside where you have no access to them. To protect your loved one from dangerous appliances and household cleaners, install child-proof locks and door knob covers.
I read somewhere that no one can predict when someone will start to wander. And, for every LO that wanders, there was a time when that persons' caregiver said their LO didn't wander. No one wanders until they do.
Yes, which is why the entire thing is so difficult. What do you do when the person who was doing 2 hour "hikes" safely suddenly can't do them anymore.
The most recent TV report of a missing AD patient involved someone who was at a local (large) buffet, went to the bathroom and never came back from there to the table. Nor did they locate her in the parking lot or any of the stores in the strip mall the buffet was in. I've been to local buffets in that chain, so I know the kinds of malls they are in although I don't know that one.
Obviously they thought nothing of her going to the bathroom by herself. They were probably doing "Sunday dinner" with the whole family. And it was probably the first time she had wandered.
I don't think of that as a case of wondering. That woman got lost coming back to the table. With the whole family there someone should have gone to the bathroom with her. I stand outside public restrooms waiting for DH. I have also stood at the door and called in to make sure I didn't miss him, coming out. But I do agree, they will all decide to wonder at some point, and they need to have ID on at the very least. I guess my next move will be to use the family baths available in many public places. but my DH doesn't want to go out too much anymore. I miss his company, and don't go out too much anymore myself. A friend recently took him out to lunch, and he was really excited about it. I was too, I did a bunch of errands I had let go for some time. We all need a break. Thanks to our friend for that short time.
Chris, at this point I'm not going to the bathroom with my husband, nor am I standing outside the door waiting for him. At this point it just plain is not necessary to do that. Or at least it wasn't last week. I'm not so sure about next week.
I know what you mean by a break. Our neighbor took my husband fishing on Sunday. Two hours...wow!
If we are out somewhere and are going to the bathroom, she wants to know exactly where we are going to meet. At first I didn't stay exactly the right place and she really got upset, even though she had no place to go without my seeing her. So we live and learn, ... all the time.
I would like to remind everyone to read about Project Lifesaver on the left side of this website's home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com It is an excellent system for finding wanderers using GPS. Check with your local sheriff's office and find out if this service is available in your area. Our reader and message board writer, Ruth, is very active in New York in getting this service expanded to include as many counties as possible. You can read about her in one of my Blogs - #183 in the "previous blog" section of the website.
One reason we have stopped travelling is the problem of getting lost in going to bathrooms. One time, in Philadelphia Airport, DW went to the ladies room just down the hall, while I stayed with our carry-on luggage. After what seemed like entirely too much time, I picked up all the bags and started down the corridor. Then I saw her at the far end. She turned the wrong way coming out of the ladies room and walked the entire length of the terminal before turning back. A friend of mine whose wife also has AD lost her in a ladies room even though he was standing at the door waiting for her. The room had two doors and she went out the wrong one. From where he was standing he could not see the other door. Unfortunately, very few places have a family bathroom where we caregivers can go in with our LO.
I'd like to point out that in most states someone who is disabled is allowed to have an attendant with them, no matter what sex the attendant is, in the handicapped space in the public bathrooms. I had never even heard of a Family Bathroom until a couple of weeks ago on this forum, although I've seen signs for them twice since I read about them here. In some places the handicapped bathroom is separate from the regular bathrooms just so it is easier for the handicapped person to have an attendant present without embarrassment.
I'm not saying I've done this myself, but I know it was the law in California, and I bet it is the law most other places as well.
My husband doesn't get lost (yet) but he will leave the house before I can even get out of bed to go for a walk. He has FTD and is obsessive about walking--will take 6-8 walks a day if I don't stop him. I have started to remove the keys from the deadbolts but one of our doors has a chain lock that requires a key to open it. This morning I caught my husband with a screwdriver removing the plate that holds the chain lock. OMG! He is in early stages but I guess I'm going to have to have a deadbolt installed on that last door and I have hidden all the screwdrivers. When I caught him and I asked him what he was doing he very matter of factly told me he needed to go for a walk and this was the only way he could get out of the house.
Is anyone aware of any gps devices that our loved ones can wear so we can find them if they get lost? I have Sprint family locator on my wife's cell phone, and I can log in and find out where she is within 5 feet...but the phone must be on, and she must be carrying it. I am looking for a device that is always on, and one that can be worn as jewelry, such as a bracelet. If I cannot find one, I will try to invent it.....that would be great for kids, adults, and anyone prone to wandering..
phranque, I understand from another post that you're also trying to invent self cleaning depends. You're a great guy! Let us know when you have success with your inventions.
I still think another way would be a microchip. Maybe with a small tatoo at its location--like a Medical symbol.
My DH doesn't carry his ID. He is adamant that he WILL NOT wear a Medic Alert bracelet or tags. He would hurt himself removing either if I did manage to get them on him., he's that adamant.
Someone indicated that a chip would be unethical, maybe inhumane,invasive. IMHO it is unethical and inhumane not to protect them by whatever means possible that causes no other harm. A pacermaker is implanted to keep the heart beating properly, protecting them from harm. If a Caregiver or Guardian can authorize that, why not a chip?
It might not find them (a GPS would), but it would give the finder the contact for all needed info once found.
thanks for the tips and links sunshyne...an oldie but goodie post.
i think many dementia professionals overuse the term wandering. it's sooo ambiguous bc it's really several issues rolled into one word....
big difference between being:
1) exit-seeking - the gentleman at our memory-care ALF who stacked benches to climb over a rather tall spiked fence
2) confused about where you are so you go in an (unknown to you) totally wrong direction and become misplaced/lost - another woman who tried to open a fire exit because she thought it was an office for someone she wanted to see
3) pacing - the people who walk, and walk, and walk, and walk...
example....exit-seeking ADLOs don't care about paths, but people who pace do.
A microchip is only a form of id...it can only be read if someone has a special microchip reader.. What we really need is a gps device, so we can track it specifically. The technology is very available (and cheap), but finding a mfg who can make it in a form of jewelry, or other portable device is hard to find. If I could buy a watch, for example, that could be gps traceable, I would buy dozens, and give them to my dh, my grandkids, and others I care about..With all the child abdctions today, I would feel so much better trying to track someone immediately if they show up missing....
Upon enrollment in the LoJack® SafetyNet™ service, your loved one is outfitted with a Personal Locator Unit (PLU) on his or her wrist or ankle. Should your loved one go missing, local law enforcement and public safety agencies are trained and certified on search and rescue procedures by Project Lifesaver International and will use LoJack digital Search and Rescue Receivers to track the radio signal being emitted from the PLU on your loved one’s wrist or ankle. Your loved one will be located, rescued and returned to you.
My rescue Siamese came with a microchip under the skin between his shoulders. That's nice. BUT: who in the world would think to look for it unless he got taken to a vet? It's no bigger than a grain of rice. With a person I guess you could have a tattoo saying "microchip here" but again, it wouldn't really be thought of unless they were under custody somewhere.. cats don't usually survive car squashing, people may.. but what's needed is something that one of us might see on some stranger walking down the street in our neighborhood looking lost.
You're right, briegull, about the microchips. My dog has one too. My DH wears a medical bracelet, but it's just a sterling one with all his info on it. A person probably wouldn't notice it unless they were examining him for some reason.
He can't remove it by himself - and he knows what it's for. He's worn it since the first DX. Mine is now watching the Masters on TV. He still loves to watch golf, thank goodness!
Sprint has a service called family locator. You can access it online, and it will who you a map with the phone's location, within 5 feet. It is fantastic, and costs $5.00 per month. The only drawback is that the phone must be on, and the person must be carrying it...works great and does not involve search and rescue personnel...
I had a spare digital cell phone that I wanted to use to replace one that was damaged. Verizon would not let me (even though it was a phone they had sold to me and identical to the one I was replacing) because it did not have GPS built-in. If you have an older digital cell phone (without GPS) you can continue using it but any new replacements will have to have GPS built in. Verizon told me it's an FCC requirement which may or may not be true. My guess is it's easier for phone company to switch cell coverage with GPS. There should be a little icon on cell phone screen to indicate it has GPS built-in. ~danielp
mmmm - I hadn't heard that. I do know that 911 doesn't work on some cell phones because the operator can't pinpoint your location - or at least that used to be the case...
I click on "menu", then "settings". The top "setting" is for location, which is the GPS. The options are "Location ON" or "911 Only". This is a Samsung phone with USCellular.
Did a little research and it seems all newer cell phones have the capability for GPS - but you have to activate it - by various means: software, subscription services, etc.
Well Dazed...just logged on and see you gotten many answers! Yes, cell phones have this technology and police can monitor as witnessed by cell phone GPS used to solve crimes and also to find lost people. There are several subsciption services as well. Now if only I can find where I put the darn phone I will be happy! Sandy
We have Verizon and have Chaperone service. My husband always has his phone on his belt/pants every morning and always wears it unless in the tub or in bed. My daughters, grandson and I can call chaperone and it will tell us the address where he is located and has a map that can be made large or small for us to locate him. He knew from the day he was diagnosed that this was his lifeline and my security blanket and that he must keep it with him no matter what. As bad as he is now, he touches it frequently to make sure it is there. We charge it at night about twice a week. If it rings, he'll hand it to one of us, but that rarely happens. I have always felt so secure knowing I can find him instantly on the phone. It costs me $9.99 a month and is worth every penny to me!
He also wears a dog tag that says "I have Alzheimer's" on the front and "Please call my wife at 555-123-1234" on the back. He doen't even take it off when he bathes. <grin> He was in the military for 20 years, so he was used to dog tags.
Just want to make a note to this article Re: PROJECT LIFESAVER. Project Lifesaver is a Radio Conrtolled bracelet device - it is not GPS. I will be more than happy to answer any and all your questions about this program. Thank you again to Joan for giving us a shout out. The Project Lifesaver program is available in 41 states and many of out major cities. Your device will work, function, and be able to be located anywhere the program is available. I live in Upstate NY and was able to use it when I took my Husband to San Antonio, TX. Thank God it was available when we needed it. To date Project Lifesaver has located, and returned home, over 1800 members within the past 10 years, within 30 minutes or less, without one loss of life. Feel free to check these stats yourself at projectlifesaver.org - all you need to do to see if this program is available in your area is to call your local County Sheriff's Office.
Be well, and please stay in touch.
I Believe... That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.
Ruth
P.S. from Joan - There is a link and a picture to Project Lifesaver on the home page of my website - www.thealzheimerspouse.com - left hand side where all the resources are located.