Wandering is a common behavior in people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia. Many dementia patients will simply get up and walk away from their homes for the same reasons that healthy people do -- to release pent-up energy. In this excerpt from a recent article in the Johns Hopkins Health After 50 newsletter, experts provide practical advice to help caregivers cope with wandering.
Unfortunately, when people with dementia leave home alone, they can end up lost, confused, and unable to communicate vital personal information. Ideally, the dementia patient will always carry identification.
The Medic Alert + Safe Return program offered by the Alzheimer's Association is a reliable, inexpensive way to safeguard the dementia patient's identification . Initial enrollment costs $49.95 and there is an annual fee of $25. Members receive a medical alert ID bracelet or pendant engraved with their medical conditions and the Safe Return phone number. Members are listed in a national database that anyone can call at any time to report someone missing or found.
Another nonprofit organization called Project Lifesaver provides dementia patients who wander with wristbands that emit tracking signals and works with local law-enforcement agencies to find someone who is lost.
Microchip protection is another option for the dementia patient. If you have ever waved an ID card over a sensor to gain access to a restricted area, you've used Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. In its latest incarnation, an RFID implant known as VeriChip is helping to manage a serious consequence of wandering: needing medical attention but being unable to communicate. The use of RFID technology for medical identification is in its infancy. Health insurance policies do not cover VeriChip; however, its cost is relatively low -- around $200.
Safeguards at Home
- First, consider why the dementia patient might be walking off: Is he or she physically uncomfortable, agitated, or bored? Keeping people with dementia engaged can help control impulsive actions like wandering.
- Ask the doctor if medications could be causing restlessness.
- Keeping clocks in plain view can limit confusion about time.
- You can bolt outside doors or install safety locks, but this practice can be dangerous in case of a fire or another emergency.
- Attempting to stop the dementia patient in the midst of wandering can be difficult. Instead, follow them and gently lead them home when they are ready.
For more information:
- Alzheimer's Association Safe Return
888-572-8566
www.alz.org/we_can_help_safe_return.asp
- Project Lifesaver International
877-580-LIFE (5433)
www.projectlifesaver.org
VeriChip
800-970-CHIP (2447)
www.verimedinfo.com
