Alzheimer's and "Wandering"

scaredofdebt

Just wanting some advice, sorry if this is a long-winded post.

My motherin law (92 years old) was diagnised with Alzheimer's 4-5 years ago and we moved in with her to look after her, she has stated on several occasions that she doesn't want to go into a home. The move was precipitated after she had a fall and broke her hip, she was left on the bathroom floor for 3 days so we knew we had to move in, having previously lived 20 miles away.

This arrangement has worked fairly well until recently when she has started "wandering". We live in a very quiet village and she will go for a walk when the weather is good, usually during the afternoon. She walks down the village and back again, stopping to talk to anyone who she encounters. Despite her Alzheimer's and age, she is pretty fit and can walk about half a mile without any issues.

A couple of the neighbours have raised concerns about allowing a vulnerable woman out on her own.

1. Should we stop her leaving the house? I expect not, the roads are quiet and she still has some road sense. She enjoys walking.

2. Should we never leave her alone? This isn't really practical for us.

I work full time and my wife part-time, so mum is not often left alone for any period of time, but yesterday we went to the coast and so were away for about 6 hours.

We are going to be getting in touch with social services for some advice and also getting a tracking device so we can keep an eye on where she is going.

We have booked a holiday abroad and will be getting carers in twice a day to keep an eye on her, mainly to make sure she is eating and drinking, do you think we should cancel the holiday?

Thanks for any help.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

"Wandering" in the context of dementia to me means leaving the house at 2 am and confusedly pacing the streets in a nightie. A walk to the village and back sounds focused and purposeful, if she is still well enough to remember the way and road rules. If this has been routine in her life, it might be more confusing to her to stop it. Maybe ask the concerned neighbours to give you a call if they think she looks distressed?

Bluntly though, dementia patients get worse not better, and you do need to prepare yourself for the reality of her needing 24 hour care at some point. You could consider respite care in a nearby home during your holiday, to see how she gets on?

scaredofdebt

Yes I put quotes around the word wandering as I don't consider it like that, she is simply going for a slow walk down the village and back, stopping to look at things and chat to people. She can seem confused when she is chatting as obviously her memory is poor. It's some of the neighbours who seem to have the problem, but they don't know her or how the condition affects her.

Some neighbours do look out for her and are helpful, others will try to bring her back to the house which isn't always helpful as she sometimes doesn't want to come straight back home. She has lived in the village for 40 odds years so she knows a lot of people, it's relative newcomers who are less helpful.

We are aware that the condition deteriorates over time and she is assessed by social services/doctors on a regular basis and we know the time will come when she needs 24/7 care and we will then need to put her into a home, but I feel she is not ready for that yet.

She will go downhill quickly in a home as that is not an environment she will enjoy, so we want to delay that as long as we can so long as it is not causing problems.

Thanks.

bugslet

I'd go on holiday. You made the choice to do so before these queries were raised so you were of the opinion that she is fine at the moment. And it certainly does sound like decision to go for a walk, rahter than wandering aimlessly.

Looking after people with Alzheimers is very wearing, I made myself ill looking after Mr Bugs, so please look after yourselves as well as her.

Instead of carers with residential care be acceptable, could you sell it as a break rather than care to her?

pmlindyloo

And to address the going away part.

Have you got a care home near you that does respite care? I don't know the financial situation but if this was possible then it might be a good way to ease her into that environment.

You would need to choose carefully. We did this with my MIL and she had a lovely time. They spoilt her and she loved it.

dawyldthing

If your living there and not paying rent (I'm not sure by your first post so not making assumptions but you put moved in) could your wife's hours be changed so that there's always one of you in. You could also put door alarms (like a shop door sound) so you could go with her/ walk behind her if you are concerned. You might also get day support for when you go away on day trips.

Also possibly second respite for your break as I know when nan was here we had a family friend pop in a few times a day but respite might have helped in hindsight. Then she can have a mini break too

ciderboy2009

My father was diagnosed with Alzheimers about 7 years ago.

We used to think he was safe going to the post box or local shops on his own until one day when he didn't come back.

We ended up having to call the Police who were excellent (even putting up the helicopter to look for him) and eventually found him about 3 miles away from home (we were told later that it's well known for Alzheimer sufferers to just keep heading in one direction).

After that incident mum made a point of putting a switched on mobile phone in his pocket if he went out so we could at least track him using the 'find your phone' option.

He's now in a wheelchair so this is no longer a problem.

PasturesNew

There are a variety of "trackers" available these days, including tiny luggage ones... you could look into what's available and find one that you can attach to her, so you at least know where she is.

Think about the likelihood of her taking the item with her though. e.g. shoes that track are no good if she's likely to wear her slippers .... and if you use a watch then keep making sure she puts it on ... so is there something she ALWAYS has, say a handbag, where you can secretly get it into there....

bouicca21

my mum survived for quite a long time with twice daily carers plus an arrangement to take her to an old peoples club most week days.

The problem with carers is that they sometimes don't stay as long as they should.

marlot

I was about to suggest a tracker of some sort. I think some of them can be set to raise an alarm if the person goes beyond a pre-set boundary.

onlyroz

There's a lady with Alzheimers who wanders around our village - the locals seem to keep an eye on her and when she gets lost (every few months) people send out search parties looking for her. I think she does wear a tracker, and has a son locally who looks in on her. The problems arise when the tracker batteries run down. She has been known to walk miles and miles - last time she went missing she was found in the next town over.