Wednesday, December 14, 2011
It’s been several years, now, but I’ve never forgotten the story. A then 58-year-old Minnesota woman had been diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer’s. She was, in most aspects, still doing well. But one day she got in her car and drove west on the Interstate. No one will ever know w...
Carol,
Thanks for the post. Yes, wandering is serious and you will never know what is going to happen. It also depends on who are around the house where the person with dementia lives. Sometimes if the neighbors are supportive, the person with dementia would just wander around the neighborhood. I would like to say that when they start to wander in earlier stage, they would first go to the neighbors without asking for permission or calling them. Sometimes they wander out because they are confused in the house and want to find "help".
I don't know if this is the case for many elders, for my FIL, it was the case. He trusted the neighbors a lot and it was a upper-class nice neighborhood. If he felt he didn't trust the caregivers in the house or he was left alone somehow, the first thing he did was to find the neighbors. So it helps if the family enlists the neighbors' help with some limit (it is not their jobs after all.) On the other hand, the dangerous thing is the neighbors may not be home when the elder wanders out. For sure the person needs an one-on-one person next to him to make sure he does not wader around outside of his house.
We thought of blocking the yard but it was not safe either so basically we hired full-time caregivers to be with him.
Regards,
Nina
It's wonderful that he had such good neighbors, Nina. Thanks for the input!
Carol
Thanks. Just want to note that sometimes the neighbors have a limit. We were not careful in the very beginning and my FIL always felt like seeing the neighbors. The neighbors have a limit at times and we try not to impose on them. But my FIL would impose on them as he has no idea. He even thought they were his caregivers as well or that they can give him money.
The family needs to communicate with the neighbors to check out their limits. Sometimes they may be so mad and call the social worker on you if you have not hired anyone to help out the person.
The family should also be aware that neighbors may not be willing to participate for too many times. Once or twice is OK. We sent them some gifts to thank them.
Eventually he was sent to a NH because I was so afraid of the neighbors' demands. (There were other factors also.)
Regards,
Nina