The inevitable changes of aging can be humbling yet surprising, but when life’s challenges include memory loss or dementia, a person’s perceptions and relationships shift hindering the patient’s life as well as the caregiver’s. Community Outreach Specialist Julie St. Pierre of the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Wisconsin Chapter says a patient’s care and safety is vital…
“…50 percent of people with dementia will wonder at some point in time, so home safety is a big concern for caregivers. There are programs that are available to help keep people safe at home that are affected by Alzheimer’s disease and one of those programs is called Medic Alert Safe Return.”
Pierre says the patient wears a bracelet identifying them as having memory issues, so if they were to wander away from home they can be returned.
Pierre suggests caregivers change house locks or install security alarms to reduce the risk of a missing person. She says people should also modify their homes to reduce the risk of falls and update appliances to keep those with dementia safe.
