Seniors Wandering at Night:
How to Prevent It
Wandering can happen to seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association reported that 6 out of 10 people with dementia will wander. This makes family caregivers’ lives harder as providing senior care is already stressful… What more taking care of seniors wandering at night? This can be emotionally draining. Get help from a Victoria BC home care.
You should be ready to avoid such a situation and to be able to deal with it accordingly if it happens. Some measures included:
Installing an alarm system to the doors of the house
It can be as simple as a bell above the door or as sophisticated as an electronic alarm system. A secondary lock to the doors and windows can also be installed.
Hiding things that somehow encourage going out
Keep coats, umbrellas, boots, keys and other items out of your patient’s sight. This may somehow trigger him to go out. If the patient can still drive, make sure to keep the car keys out of sight and install a GPS in the car.
Identifying signs that seniors may wander at night
What triggers seniors wandering at night? In the case of your patient, you have to know what makes him decide to wander. Is it uneasiness? Tension? Boredom? The need to drink or use the bathroom or do household chores? As a caregiver, you must be able to easily determine signs of wandering so you can easily take measures to prevent it. It is also helpful if you keep a diary to take note of everything, including changes in the behavioral patterns that may result in the possibility of leaving home.
Getting assistance from a Victoria BC home care
Lighten up your burden and get help. Providing senior care and at the same time dealing with seniors wandering at night is not an easy task.
It is also a big help if the patient carries an identification card at all times. It must have important information, such as the name of the patient, address, medical condition, and contact numbers of the family members, as well as your name and phone number as the caregiver. As the one providing senior care, you must also familiarize yourself with the neighborhood and the possible places that the patient may go to.
Even after all the precautions and efforts taken to prevent seniors wandering at night, it is nearly impossible for you to keep track of the patient every minute of every day. The possibility is always there. Difficult as it is, when the senior gets lost, you must keep calm and stay focused so you can respond to the emergency situation immediately. Hiring someone who will provide you assistance, especially during the night, can be a good idea as well. Call a Victoria BC home care.
