Confusion and disorientation can lead to different challenges for aging adults with dementia, including wandering. Wandering can put your elderly parent’s safety and health at risk. Therefore, it’s necessary to create a list of strategies to handle wandering and possibly prevent the issue altogether.
1. Hide Keys & Lock Doors
Your loved one could go to the bathroom and walk out without your knowledge, going straight to the front door or garage with the intent to leave home. However, keeping the keys hidden, the doors and windows locked, and the entrance and exit pathways secure can reduce the risk of wandering. Although your loved one should be free to access safe areas of the house, just as it’s necessary to keep dangerous objects properly stored, hiding the keys and securely locking doors protects his or her safety.
Caring for a loved one with dementia is a challenging task for anyone. The responsibilities can sometimes feel overwhelming, but help is available. Families looking for top-rated homecare providers can reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care. From respite care to specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care, there are many ways we can make life easier for seniors and their loved ones.
2. Promote Better Sleeping Habits
Insomnia is a symptom associated with dementia, causing seniors to sleep more during the day and less at night. When this occurs, your loved one could become bored or confused at night or in the early morning hours and decide to go for a walk. If you cannot stop your parent from leaving home during the night, he or she could become lost or encounter dangerous situations that result in serious accidents. However, creating a better sleeping pattern could help your loved one manage resting habits more effectively despite living with dementia. Reducing the sundowning that disrupts rest for older adults with this condition could also boost their moods and stave off agitation.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of senior Home Care Richmond, VA, families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
3. Provide Supervision
Learning your parent has wandered away can be a devastating experience, so you should monitor his or her whereabouts throughout the day and night, ensuring he or she is safely inside the home or at a known location. You don’t need to stay in the room with your loved one every moment of the day. However, you need to monitor the areas of the home your loved one accesses to confirm he or she is safe.
You can also use monitoring devices such as cameras, allowing you to work from your home office, cook in the kitchen, or take on other activities without being in the same room as your parent. If you cannot provide the necessary supervision, hiring a caregiver to help you during the week or on weekends would be a good idea.
4. Discover the Problem & Develop a Plan
Fear is one of the most common reasons for wandering in seniors with dementia. Your parent could believe you’re a stranger, causing him or her to walk away in search of safety. As a family caregiver, it’s your responsibility to try and discover the problem and develop a plan to handle these issues effectively. For example, you can display photos of your loved one with family and friends throughout the home. Seeing these images could trigger memories when your loved one believes he or she is in a strange place.
Caring for a senior with dementia can be challenging for family caregivers. Luckily, there is dementia care Richmond families can rely on. Professional dementia caregivers help seniors with dementia stay safe and comfortable at home by preventing wandering, providing cognitive stimulation, and assisting with household chores. Trust your loved one’s care to the professionals at Assisting Hands Home Care. Reach out to one of our compassionate Care Managers today at (804) 600-0002.
