ELDER CARE
Keeping those with dementia safe this summer
Spring has sprung and
summer is upon us! People
tend to spend more time
outside enjoying the beautiful
weather. Often this leads to
increased incidents of people
with Alzheimer’s disease and
related dementias wandering
from their home or caregivers.
If you are currently caring
for someone with dementia,
knowing how to limit
wandering and preventing
that person from becoming
lost, will help keep the person
safe and give you greater peace
of mind.
Try to follow these steps
before the person with
Alzheimer’s disease wanders:
Make sure the person
carries ID or wears a medical
bracelet. If the person gets
lost and can’t communicate
clearly, an ID will let others
know about his or her illness.
It also provides a way to find
out where the person lives.
Consider enrolling the
person in the Wanderer’s
Safety Program. Visit
www.caringkindnyc.org/
WanderSafety or call 646-
744-2900 to enroll.
Let neighbors and the
local police know that the
person with Alzheimer’s
tends to wander. Ask them to
alert you immediately if the
person is seen alone and on
the move.
Place labels in garments to
aid in identification.
Keep an article of the
person’s worn, unwashed
clothing in a plastic bag to
aid in finding him or her with
the use of dogs.
Keep a recent photograph
or video recording of the
person to help police if he or
she becomes lost.
Here are some tips to
help prevent the person with
Alzheimer’s from wandering
away from home:
Keep doors locked.
Consider a keyed deadbolt,
or add another lock placed up
high or down low on the door.
If the person can open a lock,
you may need to get a new
If you are currently caring for someone with dementia, knowing
how to limit wandering and preventing that person from becoming
lost, will help keep the person safe. Getty Images
latch or lock.
Use loosely fitting doorknob
covers so that the cover turns
instead of the actual knob.
(Due to potential hazard they
could cause if an emergency
exit is needed, locked doors
and doorknob covers should
be used only when a caregiver
is present.)
Place STOP, DO NOT
ENTER, or CLOSED signs
on doors.
Divert the attention of
the person with Alzheimer’s
disease away from using
the door by placing small
scenic posters on the door;
placing removable gates,
curtains, or brightly colored
streamers across the door;
or wallpapering the door to
match any adjoining walls.
Install safety devices
found in hardware stores to
limit how much window can
be opened.
Install an “announcing
system” that chimes when the
door opens.
Secure the yard with
fencing and a locked gate.
Keep shoes, keys, suitcases,
coats, hats, and other signs of
departure out of sight.
Do not leave a person with
Alzheimer’s who has a history
of wandering unattended.
If someone you’re caring
for goes lost, please contact
911 first. For more information
about the MedicAlert® NYC
Wanderer’s Safety Program
and many other caregiving
resources and programs,
all free of charge, call
CaringKind’s free 24-hour
Helpline at 646-744-2900 or visit
www.caringkindnyc.org.
22 TIMESLEDGER, JUNE 21-27, 2019 BT QNS.COM
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