Varying degrees of dementia can be managed very well at home or in an assistant living facility, except where wandering is a problem. Wandering is the one behavior that stresses family and caregivers the most, and often leads to institutionalization earlier than need be. There is nothing more stressful than trying to keep track of an individual who is determined to go out for walks without telling anyone.
People with mild to moderate dementia still have the need to be independent. Being independent is being able to enjoy activities like walking, running and driving. To them, telling them that they cannot do something that they have been doing for years is like putting them in prison. People who have been going for a walk every day are not about to change their ways. The idea that they may get lost is not real to them. They often become irritated and even hostile if they are told that they can not go out on their own. This becomes very worrisome. Confusion and getting lost are very real possibilities, and the outcome can be quite dire.
I was pleased to read a short article in the latest AARP newsletter (December 2011) by Candy Sagon. She wrote about the propensity of dementia or Alzheimer residents to wander off and get lost. You would be surprised at how much territory a good walker can cover in a very short period of time.
The author researched a new product that should allow both the caregiver and the individual a little more peace of mind. A locator shoe with a built-in Global Positioning Device can make it easier to track down the wearer. The device is hidden in the shoe and the individual is spared the embarrassment of wearing an alarm bracelet, or the indignity of being rounded up and directed back home. The shoes look like regular walking shoes. The individual can move freely in familiar territory (geo fence), but when they stray from their beaten bath a map on a computer or phone will alert the caregiver. No more frantic phone calls to relatives and police, drives around neighborhood, or staff trying to find recalcitrant walkers.
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