Managing Alzheimer’s symptoms: Rummaging and hiding things

Caring for a patient who rummages around or hides things in the home is a challenge, but not an insurmountable one.

 

Protecting your property

• Lock certain rooms or cabinets to protect their contents, and lock up all valuables.
• Have mail delivered out of reach of the Alzheimer's patient—perhaps to a post office box.
• If items do disappear, learn the person’s preferred hiding places.
• Restrict access to wastebaskets and trashcans, and check all wastebaskets before disposing of their contents in case objects have been hidden there.

 

Protecting Alzheimer’s patients from harming themselves

• Remove or prevent access to unsafe substances, such as cleaning products, alcohol, firearms, power tools, sharp knives, and medications.
• Prevent electrical accidents by blocking unused electrical outlets with childproofing devices. Hide stove knobs so the person can’t turn on the burners.
• Lower the temperature on water heaters.
• Designate a special drawer of items that the person can safely “play” with when keen to rummage.

Dementia Signage for the Home

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Weekly Planner (Bright Pink) Memo Pad

$30.95

Weekly To Do List Notepad (White)

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EZ-C Bold Yellow Weekly To Do List Notepad

Red Dry Erase Board

Dementia Signage for the Home

$22.75 - Financial Records Organizer Vinyl Binder

$22.75 - EZ-C Bright Green 3 Ring Binder