There is an ever-increasing number of Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease each year. As many as 5 million people in the US currently suffer with Alzheimer's disease in various stages. Some sources go so far as to predict the number of cases will triple in the next fifty years. Alzheimer's disease is especially heartbreaking as it robs victims of their memory, cognitive abilities, and personality. People with Alzheimer's may become increasingly disoriented to time and place.

Wandering is a frightening and dangerous problem for many Alzheimer's sufferers as they are often unable to recall enough information to find their way home or call for assistance. If they are not found as soon as possible there is an increased chance for them to become injured or ill due to lack of medication or supervision. Studies show 60% of all patients with Alzheimer's will wander at some point. Of these, as many as 50% will die if they are not found within 24 hours.

Personal care homes have various systems in place to address this concern, yet those struggling to provide adequate care and supervision to a loved one at home often go without adequate rest themselves because of the very real fear of wandering loved ones. This not only places the Alzheimer's victim at risk, but endangers the caregiver as well as their personal health and peace of mind suffers additional stress factors.

I have seen first hand the stress that Alzheimer's disease places on a family. The daily challenges and struggles to decided to care for their loved ones at home or placing them in a personal care center is not one taken lightly. Even setting up a system to deadbolt doors or placing buzzers at entryways don't always prevent someone from wandering away.

After many sleepless nights, an elderly friend was wakened in the pre-dawn hours by a neighbor knocking on her door. Her husband of 60 years had wandered away in his pajamas and was found walking alongside of a country road in 30 degree weather. Luckily a neighbor recognized him and convinced him to get in the car to be brought home before any real harm was done. However, my friend spent hours feeling guilty about not hearing him slip outside and imagined all the dangers that could have befallen him had the neighbor not spotted him in time.

My friend had no knowledge that at the time, the Alzheimer's Association had an identification program in partnership with the Medic-Alert plan to activate searches for those who wander away. The program, Safe Return, is a national identification program that helps locate lost Alzheimer's patients in a safe and timely manner. Yet activating the system even for those who are registered takes valuable time.

Another option recently available makes use of the ever-increasing GPS tracking technology. Numerous systems using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology may help keep track of Alzheimer's disease sufferers. The system and technology is already in place and could provide a way to quickly and easily locate those who wander. When partnered with mapping programs and a wireless digital device it would be easy to quickly see where the missing person is located.

GPS was initiated in 1973 by the US Department of Defense (DOD) for navigation purposes. GPS receivers can be used by civilians and are being built into a variety of products. Through a network of satellites, GPS units on the ground receive radio signals and compute the location of a device within one-tenth of a mile

The use of personal locator devices that integrate GPS technology with mapping programs and digital wireless gadgets could ease a huge fear of those caring for Alzheimer's victims. These devices receive signals from satellites to tell users where on earth they are. Commonly used in vehicles to map routes and by runners to track miles the use of a GPS personal location tracker for Alzheimer's patients may offer a solution to quickly getting the care needed should wandering occur.

GPS technology can be used to pinpoint the location of lost Alzheimer's patients who wear a personal location device. Some devices may be worn as a watch or pager. With a GPS locator device the user doesn't have to activate it, and the technology works over a larger geographic area and has the ability to lead searcher to the missing Alzheimer's patient.

If you are a caretaker for an Alzheimer's patient, I highly recommend registering him or her in the Safe Return program. You can get further information at the Alzheimer's Association website. To find exactly where your lost loved one is in as speedy manner as possible, consider purchasing a personal locator device. Though it can be somewhat costly, when compared to placing your loved one in a personal care home or losing valuable time trying to find them once wandering has occurred, the price can well be more than worth the investment.

There is a controversy in some circles concerning the use of personal location devices to track individuals regardless of medical or mental impairments. You may want to talk with your loved one as well as his doctor and other caregivers before making the decision to invest in a GPS tracking device. In the meantime there are some precautions you can take to help prevent wandering when there is an Alzheimer's victim at home.

These steps would include:

Installing locks and alarms on all exits

Labeling doors with a warning sign or symbol that says 'NO' or 'DO NOT LEAVE DOOR OPEN'

Being aware of when wandering is likely to occur and taking extra precautions at those times.

Find ways to relieve anxiety leading up to wandering.

Making sure the Alzheimer's patient always has some form of identification on them

Placing labels inside collars and articles of clothing that can't be lost or misplaced

Register with the Safe Return program.

RESOURCES:

Alzheimer's disease information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/alzheimersdisease/alzheimersdisease.htm. Accessed July15, 2008.

Safe return program highlights the dangers of Alzheimer's disease and wandering. Alzheimer Support website. Available at: http://www.alzheimersupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/1903/searchtext/wandering. Accessed July 15, 2008. http://www.alz.org/we_can_help_medicalert_safereturn.aspAccessed July 15, 2008.

Medic Alert & Safe Return - Live 24-hour emergency service for wandering and medical emergencies. Alzheimer's Association website.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, December 27th, 2009 at 8:41 am and is filed under home security systems. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.