Friday 27 November 2015

Wandering: A Common Problem For Those With Dementia

Posted by Unknown at 14:43
By Rue Nichols


Whether your loved one with dementia lives at home or at a facility for assisted living in San Diego, wandering can be a scary problem. There are many reasons why people with dementia wander away, and there are also several ways to help reduce the likelihood of this frightening problem.

There are typically two big contributing factors to wandering in people with Alzheimer's or any type of dementia. The first is confusion about their surroundings as well as time and place. The second factor is restlessness, which is a common problem among those with dementia. Many people mistakenly believe that their loved one will be less confused living at home than at a community for assisted living in San Diego, but often your loved one will not recognize their home or believe that they actual should be in a home in which they lived previously.

It doesn't matter whether your family member with dementia lives at a facility for assisted living in San Diego or in their private home; there are ways to keep them as safe as possible. If they do tend to wander, it can be wise to make sure that they have a medical identification bracelet or pin as well as a purse or wallet with identification. Sewing a patch of fabric into the inside of a jacket also can help. You can use fabric pens to write the person's name, as well as the phone number of a family member or friend.

While a person could wander away at any time of the day, it seems that many people with dementia will wander at dusk or at night. This is because they often tend to be very agitated and restless at night. To help reduce the restlessness, it can help to provide some exercise and activities during the day. This might include taking some short walks or perhaps doing some light gardening or household chores, whatever level of exercise is safe for your loved one. In addition, it is recommended that you eat an early evening meal to help aid digestion and make sleeping a bit easier.

In some cases, families do resort to taking stronger measures to ensure the safety of a family member. Placing locks high up on the front door or using child-proof devices on doors and windows can make it difficult for a person to leave. Installing door monitors that signal when a door has opened also can alert someone that your loved one is leaving the house. Ask some kind neighbors to keep an eye out and give you a quick call if they see your loved one wandering around the neighborhood. If the battle to keep your loved one safe gets to be too much, it can be smart to look into a residence for assisted living in San Diego County.

Typically, a person with dementia will be safer at a facility for assisted living in San Diego or assisted living in La Mesa or Oceanside. This is because there is staff on hand 24 hours a day, and the staff should be trained to handle the needs of memory care residents. It is important when selecting a facility to choose eldercare designed specifically for memory care as this is the safest option, and the apartments and activities are designed to make life as manageable, stress-free and engaging as possible for people with Alzheimer's or any other type of dementia.




About the Author:




0 comments:

Have any question? Feel Free To Post Below:

 

© 2013. All Rights Reserved | Your Knowledge Space

Home | | Top