Alarms for Wandering

seakinghelp

Does anyone have a recommendation on an alarm that we could have our mother wear along with her Assisted Living Facilities Pendant she pushes when she needs assistance?  We need a way to "catch & Prevent" mom from walking out of the facility - we living in MN and cold weather is fast approaching.  Does anyone know of an alarm that we could set that would allow her like 200 ft. from her own apartment before the alarm goes off???

loveskitties

Hi,

Have you discussed the issue of wandering with the AL folks?  Is wandering her only issue?

Is the AL willing to take on the responsibility of getting her back to the apartment or will EMS need to be called?

It sounds as if she might need to be in MC rather than AL.

harshedbuzz

This is beyond the scope of a hospitality-model AL facility. Where I live, this level of supervision might be provided in Personal or Memory Care. When dad was in rehab, known exit-seekers were given a bracelet that set off an alarm if the person approached an exit; perhaps they already have an alarm system. 

If your mom is exit seeking, dressing improperly for weather and prone to being lost, the answer is likely Memory Care.

ButterflyWings

Dear S - Very sorry you are in this club that no one wants to be part of. This forum and wise members are a wonderful resource in our terrible situation.

My DH is exit seeking -- every. single. day. for the last 3 years since diagnosis with AD. Increasingly, the only real alarm for his wandering is 'line of sight supervision' at all times. If not for my burglar alarm at our family home, he would have gone out the window a few times, when I thought he was in the bedroom sleeping. The doors I have to constantly watch him and redirect the 'gotta go' planning and language about who he has to meet where, and the bus and car and all that.

We have to be one step ahead at all times, for safety's sake with dementia. I agree, your LO needs a higher level of security and supervision than just a bracelet, shoes, alarm mats, and door alarms. I hate to say how many articles there are about loved ones lost and meeting a tragic end.