One of the most difficult Alzheimer’s disease symptoms to deal with as a caregiver is wandering. People will disappear for no apparent reason at random times which can create panic for both the caregiver and the person with Alzheimer’s. Fortunately there are products and methods to help with this dangerous activity.
A number of factors can contribute to wandering and learning to control them can help decrease the likeliness of wandering occurring. Reasons range from looking for something familiar from the person’s past, to needing exercise, to simple hunger. Because Alzheimer’s can inhibit communication abilities, wandering is simply a manifestation of these needs. By offering a snack at appropriate times or looking through a photo album, and taking time to give them physical activities you may be able to erase their need to wander.
But it’s not always that simple. The individual may be able to wander off a great distance before you even realize they are gone, leaving you with no clue as to where they have gone. It can happen while you are preparing a meal, showering, doing chores in another area of the house or even while sleeping during the night. This is when products such as LifeTrac® MobileProtector™ and SecuraPal® Guardian become invaluable to your caregiving efforts.
The SecuraPal® Guardian is a small GPS locator that can easily be worn on the hip, in a pocket or around the neck on a lanyard. If the wearer with Alzheimer’s or dementia wanders off, you can get online and access a private site that shows you where the person is at that moment and the path they took to get there.
Rather than having you wait until they wander off, you can program alerts to be sent to you based on a number of factors: location, speed and inactivity. For example, with the location factor, you can set up a perimeter that they are not supposed to pass through and if they do, preset contacts will receive an alert via email or text. This helps you keep an eye on them before they get too far away.
The more advanced LifeTrac® MobileProtector™ is a GPS locator-phone that can also be used to track someone’s location and activity. It has the same features as the SecuraPal® Guardian but can also be used as a simplified phone. It can make and receive emergency calls so that you can communicate with your loved one if they wander off. It also features one button dialing making it easier to use.
Understanding what causes wandering can help with your caregiving efforts but the unpredictable nature of the symptom makes it especially difficult. The use of products that help you monitor your loved ones will help give you the peace of mind that is so valuable to any caregiver.