Physically, dementia patients look perfect, especially if they are groomed properly. Mentally, they are not at all perfect. It’s because dementia hits the brain functions that impact the thinking, reasoning, and remembering ability of the patients. When the condition turns worse, this health problem starts affecting the daily functions of the patients. The situation becomes risky when patients become confused, disoriented, and worried, leading to wandering.
In this post, we will
discuss some valuable tips to prevent the wandering problem of dementia
patients.
- The room of the patient should be
equipped with specialized locks and tracking devices. These systems will
not allow the patient to leave the room even after several trials. But,
don’t forget to close the locks.
- Other than specialized locks and
tracking devices, you should install video or wandering alarms as they
will alert you when the patient will attempt to wander. You will get the
signal beforehand.
- There should be enough space in
the room where the patient is living. It will prevent the patient from
stepping out because roaming will become easier in the room itself. You
should make necessary adjustments as well in the room to avoid accidents
and injuries.
- Wandering of dementia patients
means a change in their behavioral patterns. Just remember that dementia
patients don’t do anything instantly, So, you should keep a check on them
and identify the triggers so that you can prevent them from
occurring.
- Your neighbors and authorities
should be properly informed about the dementia patient in your house,
especially if it’s about wandering. If they are informed, it will be easy
for them to handle and contact you on time.
- Create a necklace or bracelet for
dementia with medical information and identification information. If you
cannot catch up on time, others will check the details and help the
dementia patient to return home. They will also inform you.
- Fear prevents dementia patients
from doing something wrong. You can use this to prevent the patient from
wandering, You should place a stop sign or other warning message on the
door. This will keep the patient away.
- Keep the room free from keys,
wallets, and purses, These act as a trigger, and patients feel like going
out and roaming. Without these things, there won’t be any way for
them.
- Other than preparing the room and
people around, you should prepare yourself daily. You should click a photo
of a dementia patient daily to stay updated about the clothing.
Is there a permanent solution for this problem?
Yes, there is. You
should send the dementia patient to a supported living agency in London. It’s very different from the
home environment but perfect for dementia patients. The setup, environment, and
people living there are all according to the dementia patients. Most
importantly, professionals look after dementia patients 24/7.
Talking about the wandering issue, the area is designed in such a way that the patients won’t go anywhere. They will roam under the open sky but it won’t be risky for them. Even, the setup of the room is such that they won’t feel like going out.