Do you know that Alzheimer’s disease is the most frequent type of dementia? It is a broad term for memory loss and other cognitive impairments that affect day-to-day activities. Unfortunately, the signs and symptoms of dementia expand over time. People with late-stage Alzheimer’s lose their capacity to converse and react to their surroundings. They may also have a tendency for Alzheimer’s Disease wandering. Keep reading if you want to know ways to prevent it.
Keep Keys and Belongings Away
A family member who has access to car keys may drive away while you’re in the bathroom, backyard, or basement. To avoid this, ensure that all keys are hidden away and consider installing a steering wheel lock in the family vehicle. Another measure is to keep their personal belongings like phones and wallets out of sight. Some folks won’t leave the house unless they have those things so that’s something to think through.
Set Up Door and Window Locks and Alarms
To keep a loved one with Alzheimer’s from wandering, make it challenging for them to leave the house. Slight alterations to your apartment or residence can make it hard for them to unlock the doors.
Consider adding child safety door knob coverings to make opening doors harder, or fixing a supplementary lock further up on the door so it’s out of their eye line. Installing door and window alarms that will notify you if they are opened, as well as placing pressure-sensitive sensor mats by their bedside can help notify you if they get up at midnight.
Pay Some Attention to Their Roaming Behavioral Pattern
Another approach is to figure out what’s causing your family member’s wandering habit. Pen down when it happens and you might quickly sense a trend over time, such as how they tend to wander at a certain period, when restless, famished, or looking to relieve themselves. Find engaging activities to keep them occupied if they are straying due to boredom, and be sure you suggest a bathroom visit or provide them a light bite or beverage before the scheduled hour of the day where they tend to roam.
Some individuals may be attempting to resume a previous schedule, such as going to work in the morning. Tell consoling assurances that are in line with their intentions to alleviate their urge to run routines. You may state, for instance, that it’s a national holiday and the workplace is closed today.
Other elderly may be on the lookout for a specific object or person, and they may stray as a result of their quest. Find other ways to convince them all is well. You may claim that the misplaced item is being serviced or is being kept safe by a close friend. Alternatively, you might explain that the person they’re seeking has already informed that they’d be late. To keep their attention off the issue, divert them with their favorite television show or a healthy snack.
While we may not have full control over Alzheimer’s Disease, there are ways to prevent wandering. Keep keys and personal belongings out of sight, and installing additional locks and useful alarms can help to a great extent. You may also want to note the junctures when roaming tends to occur and plan responses to tackle that.
