Wandering and Seniors – Have You Taken Precautions to Keep Your Dad Safe?
Dementia is the broad term for a number of medical conditions that cause a decline in cognitive function. Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and Lewy body disease are the most common types of dementia. As the brain’s deterioration increases, wandering becomes a risk.
Elderly Care in Glenolden PA: Wandering and Seniors
Not every senior with dementia will wander. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, about 60 percent of people with dementia wander away from home at least once. Some of the early warning signs of wandering include:
- Forgetting where he or she lives.
- Asks to go home repeatedly when already at home.
- Can’t sit still and is always pacing or walking around.
- Talks about needing to go to work.
- Can’t be in public places without getting anxious or wanting to flee.
- Takes longer to get home after a daily walk than in the past.
If your dad has dementia and is showing any of these signs, you need to realize that wandering is a possibility. It’s time to take precautions to avoid learning your dad has wandered off.
-Enroll in MedicAlert Safe Return
MedicAlert Safe Return is a program offered by Medic Alert and the Alzheimer’s Association. If your dad wanders, you call a toll-free number and a team in your dad’s area is alerted to quickly find him. The team includes police officers, EMTs, and local members of the Alzheimer’s Association.
There is a yearly membership fee. That fee includes a Medic Alert bracelet or necklace that has important information that can be used to get your dad back home.
It also keeps your dad’s medical information on file so that EMTs and other medical professionals have the information they need to expedite any necessary treatments. Your dad is going to be unlikely to answer questions about his medical history on his own.
-Create Obstacles to Prevent Wandering
Sliding locks in unusual locations can make it hard for your dad to get out of the house. Place these locks down near the floor or way at the top of the door. You can also use a security alarm that goes off if the code isn’t entered within a specific period of time once the door is opened.
There are bed alarms that go off if your dad gets out of bed in the middle of the night. You can also put in an alarm that goes off if your dad opens his bedroom door.
-Arrange Senior Care Services That Cover Supervision
Look into senior care services that provide companionship. Caregivers work in shifts to cover the hours when you have to be at work or have plans. A caregiver comes to your dad’s home and monitors his comings and goings. If he tries to leave the home, there’s someone around to distract him and keep him at home.
Call a senior care agency to discuss companionship services. Caregivers can also offer other aspects of senior care that help your dad complete his daily routines when Alzheimer’s makes it tough.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Elderly Care in Glenolden, PA, please contact the friendly staff at Suma Home Care. Call today: (484) 206-4544
Sources:
Ibrahim recently completed a Professional Certificate in Management; He is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administrations (MBA) at a prestigious university in the UK.
With their passion for helping others and a strong background in customer services and clinical care, Ibrahim and his wife started assisting individuals in their homes.
Since started and operating Suma Home Care in 2010 in the basement of their home, Suma Home Care has provided professionals who work endlessly in providing clients with the highest quality of care, while enabling clients to maintain dignity, comfort and safety in their homes.
Suma Home Care, serves four counties in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia. Ibrahim is firmly connected to his local community and is always looking for ways to give back whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Ibrahim enjoys spending time with his wife and children, travelling and enjoys sports.
Mariama Suma-Keita BSN RN
Born in Sierra Leone west Africa, relocated to America in 1999 from a civil war and settled since in the U.S.A as a Naturalized citizen Graduated from National school of nursing with an associate , and completed BSN in Nursing from Immaculata University graduated with Honor roll Alpha Lambda sigma, After escaping the war served as a refugee nurse in Gambia and Guinea to other displaced refugees before coming to America.
In the states started in Homecare then then transition into hospital, worked in Jefferson hospital as a Registered nurse on Tele and general medsurg floor, also worked in Einstein hospital as an oncology transplant nurse , I realized that I enjoy working with patients so much and believe in quality and compassionate care one at a time dealing with an holistic approach in caring for patients and family in a familiar environment called home , I see the impact and progress when they’re home , it makes them feel relax and progress fast with recovering at home. As a nurse and entrepreneur I understand that dedication to meeting people and families needs is a priority, and able to foster relationships with family and patients that is professional and friendly to help them stay and settled home as a desire.
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