Keeping Someone With Memory Loss Safe at Home
One evening Glenda found the front door open and his shoes gone.
Picture a woman named Glenda, 70. Her husband is 78, and his memory has been slipping for a while. He still knows her. He still loves his morning walk.
One evening Glenda found the front door open and his shoes gone. She found him at the end of the street, buttoning his coat.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"To the office," he said. "I am late."
He had retired years ago. Glenda took his arm and said, "Let us have supper first." She did not argue about the office, and they walked home together.
That night she went looking for what other families do. The Alzheimer's Association says that about 6 in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once, and that many do so again and again. It can happen at any stage. It can be life-threatening. Glenda had not known. She felt less alone and more worried at the same time.
The Association also publishes home safety tips. Glenda went through the house room by room with the list.
| Idea from the Alzheimer's Association | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Automatic shut-off on appliances, and covers for stove knobs | A burner left on is easy to miss |
| Locked cabinet for medicines | Pills are taken as the doctor prescribed |
| Good lighting, and clear floors | A bright, clear room makes a fall less likely |
| Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors | An early warning for the whole house |
| Firearms secured or removed | Safer for everyone at home |
| Locks placed above or below eye level | A lock out of the usual line of sight may be overlooked by someone confused |
She made an appointment with his doctor to talk about what she was seeing. Questions about medicine, sleep and behavior belong to the doctor, and she wrote hers down first.
Then she wrote a page for the woman who helps in the house three afternoons a week. It named the doors, the keys, the medicines and the first person to call. It also said that if he mentions the office, supper is a good answer.
You could…
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Go through your home with the Alzheimer's Association home safety list, one room at a time.
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Write a one-page note for any helper with the doors, the keys, the medicines and who to call first.
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Ask the doctor which changes, such as restlessness near evening, are worth reporting.
What did you change at home first? Share it here. Someone reading may be standing at the front door tonight.
Figures are estimates for planning, based on public data. Sources: Alzheimer's Association, wandering information and home safety tips. This is general information and not medical advice. A doctor could answer questions about your family member.
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