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Wandering is one of the most dangerous and feared side effects of Alzheimer’s and dementia’s.  Usually, the main reason for someone wandering is they are trying to find some place that is familiar to them.  A problem with wandering is someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia may not realize they are doing dangerous acts, such as walking into traffic. The good news is that wandering can be prevented.  The website below includes some resources you may find helpful for protecting your loved one from the dangers of wandering. http://www.alzheimershope.com/symptoms_strategies/wandering.php Even though it is completely understandable to be scared and agitated when a loved one wanders away, it is very important to refrain from confronting them and badgering them. When a loved one wanders away a frantic confrontation will only make things worse. While it is certainly easy to say that one should not show fear or anger when a loved one wanders, putting that into practice is another matter. One of the most important things to keep in mind is not to lecture your loved one about wandering, in order to prevent an outburst. Alzheimer’s not only affects the memory, but may control that part of the brain which controls our behavior. Don’t  increase the fright of your loved one, or the chance of an outburst, by lecturing them. When it comes to wandering, simply remember to try to remain calm. -Anthony B. Ferraro
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This depends on a number of factors. If he is considered a high-risk case for wandering and the provider is admittedly not suited to deal with it, then, yes, he may be incorrectly placed. But if this was a first or “one-time” incident and staff members say they can handle it from here on out, try to keep your father where he is. It’s good for him to remain in familiar surroundings. (If you think the facility simply is not living up to its care obligations or has been derelict in its duties, then looking for a different facility would be advised.) Having a person with Alzheimer’s disease move can often be traumatic. What makes this predicament particularly difficult is you can’t typically determine if your father is going to wander until the first time it happens. A facility can be caught off-guard by this but then can recover by ramping up supervision to responsibly take care of him. The facility might, in fact, have a very good resident monitoring system available or in place but did not think to tell you about it because your father wasn’t yet deemed a wandering risk. You can do a little research to help determine the next step. Speak with the facility’s activity director to learn whether your father takes part in activities. If he doesn’t or doesn’t take part much, ask the director to get him more involved in either group of individual activities. This will help keep his body active and his mind stimulated, diverting some of the energy that would be used for wandering. Exercise is a good way to spend excess energy You also can look into engaging private duty or sitting services. Consult facility staff about having someone come in to spend one-on-one time with your father. This would still not guarantee against wandering (due to the nature of the disease) but it would be another proactive measure against it. Have all caregivers track whether your father tries to leave the facility, and if staff members are able to prevent or counteract it. If they can’t prevent it, you might need to explore other options. Also consider: Does your father seem anxious or extremely agitated? His doctor might be able to do something about this with an appropriate intervention. There is also the chance that your father may remain agitated enough to wander no matter where he is. Be sure to keep his doctor up to date on the situation. For more information, go to our Alzheimer’s Resource Kit by clicking here.
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If it’s done well — with proper staffing and development — it can be very beneficial. The idea of the dementia care unit is to provide specialized care, which includes trained staff for dementia, smaller units to soothe residents’ feelings and a locked area that will be safe for those who wander or pace relentlessly. The last two are symptoms that most Alzheimer’s patients experience at one time or another. Dementia units do not try to stop it from happening but rather aim to contain it to a safe environment. If your mother lived in an open facility — not a specialized unit— she might become more confused. Many such facilities are larger, have wide open spaces and high ceilings, and a lot more people coming and going. Those conditions are virtually eliminated in a special care unit. Dementia units raise the level of care while lowering the levels of stimulation. Many have done away with overhead intercoms since they can cause serious confusion or agitation for residents. The standard for Alzheimer’s care in most facilities is that the special unit has its own activities director. Often, direct care staff also are trained specially to participate in resident activities, which are specifically geared to the residents’ needs. For more information on special Alzheimer’s care facilities in your area, contact your state’s Department on Aging. It can give you a list of units or tell you where you can find one. If you have the option, visit at least three of these units in your area before making a choice. As always when visiting a potential home for a loved one, take someone you know and respect who preferably isn’t in the family. That way you can get a more objective view of what’s going on. Meet the staff and observe how they treat the residents, and how the residents respond. It’s not unusual for a facility to have a few deficiencies, but how serious were they and have they been corrected in a timely manner? You need to know these things. When you make a decision about a facility for a loved one, listen to your gut feeling. It is often a very accurate way to gauge. You still need to take stock of basic needs and questions; talking with the person who accompanied you on your visit will help sort things out. Then you can make a rational decision that everyone can live with more comfortably. For more information regarding Alzheimer’s, click here.
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It is very likely he or she will be just like anyone else: The person will have good days and bad days, clearer days and foggier days. Sometimes it will seem like nothing is wrong; others, there will be no doubt Alzheimer’s is at work. On a good day, the person might remember things like he or she once did. Patients might appear upbeat and say they are feeling good. You should savor these times. Such lucidity is a blessing you should embrace. You might begin to question whether the Alzheimer’s diagnosis is accurate. This would be false hope. Realize these times should be savored, for they will pass. Caregivers tend to go through a grieving process and that can lead to fantasizing. It might seem like everything is just a bad dream, or that things will go back to the way they were one day. Denial might set in. We look forward to our loved ones “snapping out of it” any day. If and when lucid days come around, they can validate such fantasies. But then reality will hit us squarely between the eyes. While you must let yourself grieve, you also must remember to enjoy each moment of the good times. It might be a few good days, or even just a few moments. Enjoy them regardless! “Quality” is more important than “quantity.” This is what you have to remind yourself. If your quality time is limited, at least you have those moments to draw from. Look at them as a blessing — and look back to them to help you get through bad times. For more information, please click here to download our FREE “Indispensable Alzheimer’s Kit.”
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As with any “rescue” mission, you must make sure you are secure first. Can you help safely on your own? Are you strong enough? Is the injured person cooperative? The reason for these cautions is if you become injured, then perhaps neither of you would get the help you need. You should background yourself in techniques that you can use to help should a fall occur — whether it’s with a friend or relative, or someone who has Alzheimer’s or simply a frail, elderly individual who might need assistance. For example, gait belts are common tools to assist ambulation. These strong canvas straps are designed specifically for helping in these situations, among others. If your friend or loved one starts to go down when you are nearby, you can simply grab the belt to slow the tumble and lower the person to the floor. This softens the fall, but remember: You have to be careful not to injure yourself as well. Gait belts are commonly available for purchase through durable medical equipment companies, home care agencies and others. Once the person is down, if you can’t get her or him up and nobody else is around to assist you, CALL 911. There should be no embarrassment or concern about this. Most emergency responders are well trained in how to deal with people who have fallen, Alzheimer’s patients, people who wander or are choking, etc. They are more than willing to come into a home to assist you.  They also can do an assessment of any possible injuries, and transport your friend or loved one to the hospital for proper review and treatment. The transportation piece for a disoriented or uncooperative patient can be especially helpful, rather than trying to do it alone. There are many accounts of caregivers calling 911 for help and getting it wonderfully. These families report being treated with full respect, concern and care, so call if you need help!   Wander and falls management companies offer an array of alerting devices that can help a person call for help. These items can be worn like faux watches or necklaces so they blend right in. The wearer pushes a button and someone out of the area is summoned for help. The systems are plentiful and can be researched on the Internet.  Dealing with a loved one with Alzheimer’s is a daunting task. There’s no need to tackle it alone, however. An excellent resource is “The Indispensable Alzheimer’s Resource Kit.” It can be downloaded at no cost by clicking here.
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Wandering isn’t a universal symptom of Alzheimer’s but it definitely can be a concern. Unfortunately, you won’t know if your loved one is a wanderer until he or she wanders for the first time. Each person with dementia travels through this journey at his or her own pace. Upon diagnosis of the disease, immediately register your loved one in the “Safe Return” program with the Alzheimer’s Association. Contact the national organization (http://www.alz.org) or your local Alzheimer’s Association for information about the program and how to enroll. When you register, you will choose the form of jewelry you would like your loved one to wear. The jewelry (a bracelet, pendant or other item) has the Alzheimer’s Association logo on the front and the wearer’s identification number on the back. Most people choose the bracelet because it can be worn with, or like, a watch. Even individuals who did not wear jewelry in the past typically will agree to wear a bracelet. Many caregivers have overcome a loved one’s suspicions or reluctance about wearing this special jewelry by ordering a second piece for themselves. When the caregiver is seen wearing it, the patient often drops resistance. It pays to plan ahead for a variety of situations. Talking with other caregivers at support groups about strategies, devices and interventions that have worked for them is a sound advice. You also should browse electronics stores to what the market has to offer. (The Alzehimer’s Store [http://www.alzstore.com] is a good place to look.) There are also agencies you can hire. They will assess your home and the patient’s living environment and make recommendations about them. Waste no time when you suspect you might have a wanderer. At the first indication, put a baby monitor in the bedroom at night so you can hear if and when your loved one gets up. Also, install safety devices in your home. And by all means, inform your neighbors. Of course, also talk with your physician about treatment for this symptom. When your loved one does wander, call 911 immediately. Many police departments give their officers special education about Alzheimer’s. This can include training officers how best to deal with wandering and other troublesome situations. Another way to prepare is to read an excellent book by Nancy Mace and Peter Rabins, “The 36-hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease, Related Dementing Illnesses, and Memory Loss in Later Life.” It is both informative and enlightening about the various stages of the disease and what you might encounter.
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