Spring is here and it may be tempting!
This is from the Alz Org latest newsletter:


Planning For Loved Ones Who Wander


Wandering away from home is dangerous for anyone with Alzheimer's, and those in early stage to moderate stages are at greatest risk. More than HALF of those with dementia will wander, so caregivers should have a plan:

-Recognize the potential risk.

-Create a Wandering Person Profile - create a document with the person's name, date of birth, a current photo, physical description, clothing descriptions, etc. (obvious moles, scars, other apparent identifying characteristics)

-Have the person wear an Alzheimer's ID bracelet - The program is called MedicAlert + Safe Return.

-Inform neighbors & local emergency responders of the person's condition; keep a list of their names and telephone numbers.

-Secure your home with deadbolt or slide-bolt locks on exterior doors; limit access to potentially dangerous areas.

-Never lock a person with dementia in a home without supervision.

-Be aware that the person may not only wander by foot but also by car or by other modes of transportation.

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I know I would FREAK OUT if this happened and at least having this info ahead of time, when I am calm, will help alot!

Yes altough when he figures out that I have been the one to put them on the door he yells at me and say "I'M NOT A BABY YOU KNOW?" Yes grandpa i know, I tell him they are for the little kids that come and visit lol! The funny thing was when I first started putting them on the door he wanted to go out all day long so pretty soon I started saying ok you can just go ahead and go out to the back padio (where by the way there is a 6' fence locked so he can't get anywhere)then is stopped being intresting to him hahaha! He can get a little crabby sometimes and one day I went into grandma's room and I can see him storming off down the hallway mumbling something about that I will not repeat LOL! And I said to grandma what is wrong with him, and she says he said he is tired of you spying on him... we both looked at each other and just started cracking up laughing! And I told her I was outside with the dogs and he came to the kitchen window and waved at me and stood there for like 5 minutes just watching me outside.... and I waived at him and then he went back to grandma's room and said I was spying on him LOL LOL!!! Sometimes I get a kick out of him hahahaha, it isn't all frusterating you know!

Megs, good idea.
I wish I has those when my mother began to wander.
Simple solution to something that could have severe consequences.
I know this puts your mind to rest

My husbands grandparents moved in with us 8 months ago, and his grandpa has dementia, what I started doing was at night time when we were asleep and durning the day when I am cleaning and I can't always hear everything that is going on around me. I put those little door knob things on the doors like for toddlers and he can't figure them out! I was vacuuming one day and looked outside and his grandpa was trying to walk across the street!!!!! So I put a couple signs up on the front door that said GRANDPA STOP DO NOT GO OUTSIDE! Needless to say they didn't work so I started using the child safty knobs and the work wonderful! I put them on at night when we go to bed or when I am doing the laundry in the laundry room or vacuuming and I can't hear him! He hasn't been able to sneak outside since ! Just a little tip!