A High-Tech Solution to Alzheimer's Wandering -- and a Warning

Three scary things to know about someone with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia wandering out the door:

1. You can't know when it will happen for the first time -- but almost two-thirds of people with dementia wander off at some point.
2. Once it happens, it's almost certain to happen again.
3. Up to half of wanderers missing for 24 hours are not found alive.

That's why the launch of a new service to track and locate people with dementia who have wandered off was big news. And good news -- except for the cautionary notes I'll get to in a moment.

Lojack SafetyNet starts with a radio-tracking device inside a wristband or ankle band ("beacon"). Local law enforcement agencies have a receiver, which can pick up the signal, even in dense woods or buildings. The "safety net" also includes a database of key information about the missing person and 24/7 emergency caregiver email/phone support.

If you've heard of Project Lifesaver, the program used by police and sheriff departments in 45 states (but not all communities), you know this system. Lojack has bought one of two companies that supplied equipment to 10-year-old Project Lifesaver International. (The other is CareTrak.) They're funding an expansion of the equipment and training needed to run the program in more communities. Lojack is noteworthy because they're so big and effective at finding what's lost; they already work with 1,900 police departments to recover stolen vehicles, their original expertise, and in 30 countries.

To find it, start with your local law-enforcement office. In some communities Project Lifesaver is free; more typically, it costs $99 to enroll and $30 per month thereafter.

Aside from the cost -- and each caregiver has to weigh the cost of peace of mind for himself or herself -- I do see two downsides to these systems. Luckily, you can do something about each.

First, the pesky one: How do you get the person to go along with wearing a band on their wrist or ankle?

• Try explaining it as a medical ID bracelet.
• Start with the ankle, where it's less likely to be seen (and more quickly forgotten)
• Make sure it's a comfortable fit, not too tight to chafe.
• If the bracelet is a bust, some companies (not usually affiliated with local police) use GPS tracking hidden inside watches. The Alzheimer's Association's Medic Alert + Safe Return program offers a jewelry-style pendant. (It's for ID purposes only; there's no tracking involved as Safe Return is a community search network.)

And now the critical one: Do they give a false sense of security?

The dark side of security devices is that they can raise the user's sense of safety – to the point where they let down their guard. (That's why children's safety experts aren't so hot about water wings. Kids who can't swim still need supervision in the water.) Enrolling in a rescue system still means you need to safeguard against wandering in the first place.

• Keep an eye on a person who's a wandering risk 24/7. Hire neighborhood teens or a professional elder companions, or look into local respite programs, if you need extra coverage.
• Learn simple things you can do at home to prevent wandering.
• Don't think it can't happen to you.

Dementia Signage for the Home

 

 

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Doctor's Appointment Reminder Notepad

 

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Appointment Reminder Notepad - Red w/Black Text

 

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Medication Reminder Notepad

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Wandering Prevention Tips

Wandering Prevention Tips

• Locks on Doors
  Install a deadbolt lock on the exterior door. You may want to install it a higher or lower level than you usually would so that it is not near eyelevel. Do ensure that someone with dementia is not locked in a home alone in case of an emergency.


• Mirrors on Doors
  Place a full-length mirror on doors you do not want her to go through. The image of another person often stops someone with Alzheimer’s from proceeding through the door.


• Stop Signs on Doors or Areas
  Place stop signs on doors you don’t want him to go through. The usual response to a stop sign is so ingrained that it often continues to evoke that same response.


• Alarms / GPS Monitoring Service
  You can also install an alarm on the exterior doors so that if, for example, you’re sleeping at night, it will sound if someone tries to exit the door. You can also consider a Global Positioning System service. These are available through several online companies and offer several different options. They usually have an initial cost and often an ongoing monthly cost as well.


• Enroll in the Alzheimer’s Association MedicAlert + Safe Return program.
  This program provides you with an ID bracelet or pendant with information about your loved one, as well as a 24 hours/day emergency response system including law enforcement notification if your loved one is missing.

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Dementia Signage for the Home

   

Caregiving Management Tools

Wandering Off To Work

For some individuals with Alzheimer's, the practice of going to work every day is so ingrained in them. After all, they may have done that daily for 45 years. This person may benefit from a more structured day, such as an adult activity program or being given specific tasks to do. For example, you could provide her with a few folders or files with papers in them if she worked with a lot of documents prior to the onset of dementia. You could also offer her a basket of clothes to fold if this task was part of her regular duties. Thinking about what your loved one’s routine consisted of prior to dementia can help you know what types of activities would be meaningful to her.

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Dementia Signage for the Home

   

   

   

"Off to Work!"

If you are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's who tends to wander off at the same time every moring, you nay want to consider having him or her wear a "Belt Loop ID" to ensure others can identify him or her. An ID Badge may "make more sense" to your loved one if he or she is still very much work centered. You may not have as much convincing to do to get your loved one to put it on every day as part of his or her "work garb," especially if your loved one is used to wearing an ID Badge at work.

Belt Loop ID

The 5 O'Clock Wanderer

If your loved one wanders at the same time every day, it might be linked to a lifelong routine. For example, if your dad tries to leave the house every day at 5 p.m. he may believe he's going home from work. 

Here are a few tips that can prevent your loved one from wandering:

• Try offering your loved one a snack, a glass of water or use of the bathroom. Encourage physical activity to curb his or her restlessness and promote better sleep.
• Try providing  visual cues. People who have Alzheimer's often forget where they are, even inside their own homes. It might help to post signs on the doors to various rooms, such as the bathroom, bedroom and kitchen. Encourage your loved one to explore his or her immediate environment as often as necessary. You may also want to post a Stop sign on doors that are off limits, such as the Basement or a back door that leads outside.
• Try using enjoyable activities and other distractions. If your loved one tends to wander at the same time every day, a planned activity at that hour could stem the wandering. It might be as simple as asking your loved one to fold a basket of towels or put place mats on the table for dinner. If wandering outdoors is an issue, you might want to store coats, boots and keys out of sight.
• If your loved one's wandering isn't related to being upset or having a physical need, you might want to focus simply on providing a safe place for walking or exploration — such as a path through the rooms of your house or a circular trail through a fenced backyard.
• Various devices can alert you that your loved one is on the move. You might place pressure-sensitive alarm mats at the door or at your loved one's bedside, put warning bells on doors and use childproof covers on doorknobs. If your loved one tends to unlock doors, you might install sliding bolt locks out of your loved one's line of sight.
• To short-circuit your loved one's compulsion to wander into off-limits rooms, you might place curtains over doors or camouflage doors with paint or wallpaper that matches the surrounding walls. A mirror or a stop sign on the door might help, too.
• Consider having your loved one wear a GPS or other tracking device that can send electronic alerts about his or her location. If your loved one wanders, the GPS device can help you find him or her quickly.

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