Challenges of Keeping Alzheimer’s Patients Safe

An elderly Brooklyn Park man wandered away from his home last weekend and was found deceased a day later.

Stories like these are painful. We reached out to the Alzheimer’s Association for advice on keeping your loved ones safe.

The Alzheimer’s Association says one in six with the disease tend to wander at some point. They say there are several ways to keep the person you are caring for safe.

“What we recommend a lot is to even just have some kind of simple alarm on the door,” says Leah Challberg with the Alzheimer’s Association. “Even something like a bell would work. Also, there are lots of different options for technology.  Some even send an alert to a phone.”

Do What’s Best for Your Loved One

While memory care facilities are a good option, those who train caregivers say that every case is different. Those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s should do what’s best for that person’s well being.

“It depends on the person’s preferences,” added Challberg.  “Ideally if a person has been able to detect that they have dementia early, then, they can say ‘when I get to this point in the disease I want this to happen.’ So that’s why early detection is so important because they can name their preferences.”

As for those of us who may encounter someone who has wandered off, there are a few ways you can tell if someone is suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia.

 “Ask them what year it is,” says Challberg. “If they don’t know the day or year or where they live that’s a good sign as well. Especially if they don’t have any physical injuries, you are probably dealing with someone who has Alzheimer’s.”

Experts say a good way to keep those with Alzheimer’s from wandering is to make sure they have a consistent schedule every day with activities and to make sure their basic needs are met. For more information on Alzheimer’s and care click here.

Brooklyn Park