Wandering is a very common issue among people with dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease. Not only is this very troubling for family members, your loved one could end up in grave danger because of this wandering. To help keep a loved one as safe as possible, the following advice might prove helpful.
There are typically two big contributing factors to wandering in people with Alzheimer's or any type of dementia. The first is confusion about their surroundings as well as time and place. The second factor is restlessness, which is a common problem among those with dementia. Many people mistakenly believe that their loved one will be less confused living at home than at a community for assisted living in San Diego, but often your loved one will not recognize their home or believe that they actual should be in a home in which they lived previously.
It doesn't matter whether your family member with dementia lives at a facility for assisted living in San Diego or in their private home; there are ways to keep them as safe as possible. If they do tend to wander, it can be wise to make sure that they have a medical identification bracelet or pin as well as a purse or wallet with identification. Sewing a patch of fabric into the inside of a jacket also can help. You can use fabric pens to write the person's name, as well as the phone number of a family member or friend.
While a person could wander away at any time of the day, it seems that many people with dementia will wander at dusk or at night. This is because they often tend to be very agitated and restless at night. To help reduce the restlessness, it can help to provide some exercise and activities during the day. This might include taking some short walks or perhaps doing some light gardening or household chores, whatever level of exercise is safe for your loved one. In addition, it is recommended that you eat an early evening meal to help aid digestion and make sleeping a bit easier.
Because wandering can be dangerous and very difficult for a family member such as child or spouse to control, more serious steps might need to be taken. Child locks can be placed on exterior doors and on windows to prevent a person from being able to leave easily. Placing bells on the doors can alert people that a door has been opened rather than having to keep an eye on someone constantly. Ask neighbors to be on the lookout in case your family member is seen wandering. They can simply call or text and let you know when it happens. Of course, moving into assisted living in San Diego also might be a good way to keep your loved one as safe as possible and give you some peace of mind.
While people with dementia still have been known to wander away from assisted living in San Diego, generally it is the safest possible solution. In addition, the assisted living apartments and all activities are set up with the memory care resident in mind. Staff members are trained to accommodate the special needs of those with dementia and there is always a staff member available at any time day or night. An eldercare placement service, such as Care Placement, can help you find a suitable facility for assisted living in San Diego county with accommodations designed for those with dementia.
There are typically two big contributing factors to wandering in people with Alzheimer's or any type of dementia. The first is confusion about their surroundings as well as time and place. The second factor is restlessness, which is a common problem among those with dementia. Many people mistakenly believe that their loved one will be less confused living at home than at a community for assisted living in San Diego, but often your loved one will not recognize their home or believe that they actual should be in a home in which they lived previously.
It doesn't matter whether your family member with dementia lives at a facility for assisted living in San Diego or in their private home; there are ways to keep them as safe as possible. If they do tend to wander, it can be wise to make sure that they have a medical identification bracelet or pin as well as a purse or wallet with identification. Sewing a patch of fabric into the inside of a jacket also can help. You can use fabric pens to write the person's name, as well as the phone number of a family member or friend.
While a person could wander away at any time of the day, it seems that many people with dementia will wander at dusk or at night. This is because they often tend to be very agitated and restless at night. To help reduce the restlessness, it can help to provide some exercise and activities during the day. This might include taking some short walks or perhaps doing some light gardening or household chores, whatever level of exercise is safe for your loved one. In addition, it is recommended that you eat an early evening meal to help aid digestion and make sleeping a bit easier.
Because wandering can be dangerous and very difficult for a family member such as child or spouse to control, more serious steps might need to be taken. Child locks can be placed on exterior doors and on windows to prevent a person from being able to leave easily. Placing bells on the doors can alert people that a door has been opened rather than having to keep an eye on someone constantly. Ask neighbors to be on the lookout in case your family member is seen wandering. They can simply call or text and let you know when it happens. Of course, moving into assisted living in San Diego also might be a good way to keep your loved one as safe as possible and give you some peace of mind.
While people with dementia still have been known to wander away from assisted living in San Diego, generally it is the safest possible solution. In addition, the assisted living apartments and all activities are set up with the memory care resident in mind. Staff members are trained to accommodate the special needs of those with dementia and there is always a staff member available at any time day or night. An eldercare placement service, such as Care Placement, can help you find a suitable facility for assisted living in San Diego county with accommodations designed for those with dementia.
About the Author:
Rue Nichols enjoys reading home health care blogs. For more information regarding assisted living facilities in San Diego or for expert help searching board and care Aliso Viejo homes for your loved ones, please visit the Care Placement site now.