Part 2: Wandering
For many families affected by dementia a great fear is that their loved one will wander, get lost and not be able to find their way home. Follow these suggestions to make sure your family member with Alzheimer’s will always be home for dinner.
- Preventing Wandering
Use a high chain lock to prevent wandering. You don’t want to feel like a jailer, but you also don’t want your loved one to get hit by a car. The truth is they are often simply not watching for dangers, and it’s much safer if they don’t go outside without assistance. - Tell Your Neighbors
Let neighbors know that your loved one has dementia. If your family member wanders neighbors can watch out for them and make sure they get home safely. - Labels In Clothing
Sew a label into their clothing that has their name, address, and phone number on it. If they forget their address or phone number this label will make sure this important information is always handy. - Address Card
Place a card in their wallet with their contact info on it. - Alert Bracelet
Alzheimer’s.org provides medical alert bracelets that have your loved one’s name, address, and phone number engraved on it. Here’s a link for the bracelet.
Click here if you missed Part 1: Driving In The Car
Check back tomorrow for Part 3: Preventing Falls
Dementia Care: Not So Common Sense Safety Tips Part 2/3