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HOME SUPERVISION
A person's right to dignity and need for
independence complicate the decisions surrounding
home safety and supervision. Individuals with
Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are likely
to be convinced that it is safe to be alone long
after it has clearly become unsafe-even after
several accidents or injuries have occurred.
Always ask yourself: Is it still harmless for my
loved one to be alone? If it is, these steps can
help:
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Provide reassurance before you leave the house,
since being alone can cause anxiety and fear for
those with dementia.
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Explain that you are only running out for a
minute, and remind your loved one that he can
call you or another family member if he feels
concerned.
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Put important telephone numbers and step-by-step
instructions at each phone.
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Make some simple activities, like a favorite
movie or puzzle, readily available to provide
distraction.
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Ask a friend or another family member to call to
chat while you are out, and to reorient your
loved one and provide reassurances.
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Leave large, simple notes around the home, such
as "Joan is at the store and will be home soon"
or "Joan will be home when this clock says
4:30."
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To ward off wandering, put up visual cues on the
exits, like "Stop" or "Do Not Leave."
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Make sure that your loved one has some type of
identification bracelet, such as those available
from local Alzheimer's agencies.
MedicAlert®
markets a bracelet with a teal emblem
specifically designed to symbolize Alzheimer's
disease and related dementias.
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Consider enrolling in
Project Lifesaver,
which uses state-of-the-art radio technology to
quickly locate wanderers.
Heightened anxiety can indicate that it is no longer
okay for your loved one to be home alone. Then,
consider making other arrangements, such as:
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Ask a neighbor or family friend to visit in your
absence.
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Invite a friend to accompany you and your loved
one outdoors, running errands together as a
group.
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Hire a trustworthy individual from the
community—a high school student or member of
your congregation, for example—to come in for a
few hours.
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Bring in trained dementia care professionals.
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Note:
As a caregiver, you must assess when to change
routines to assure adequate supervision. The
last thing that a well-intended caregiver needs
is a crisis situation that could have been
prevented. These crises can also be construed as
neglectful, possibly leading to a Protective
Services investigation. It is the caregiver's
legal and ethical responsibility to intervene
when supervision is needed.
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