ALZHEIMERS HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK OF WANDERING

A large number of people with alzheimers 'escape' their care givers. In fact Bob de Marco of the Alzheimers Reading Room estimates that 60% of alzheimer and advanced dementia sufferers will wander off at some point.
The risks to the patient are enormous and in the United States the statistics maker very sad reading. Of those found within two to twelve hours only 93% will be found alive. Seven out of every one hundred will be dead,
After twenty four hours the figures get grimmer. Only 33% are found alive.
After seventy two hours only one in five will be found alive. What terrible statistics.
The reason is that alzheimers patients are prone to accidents anyway and often don't hear people who speak to them and thus don't respond. Also, society has become so used to homeless people that few if any people will respond to an agitated person.
As always there is some good news and that is that most alzheimer and dementia patients are found within an hour and within one mile from home.
A good idea for caregivers is to encourage the patient to wear one of those chromium identity bracelets with name, address and caregiver's telephone number.
In addition, there are some excellent tracking devices that have alert facilities if the patient leaves the premises or garden. A very worthwhile investment.
David Barnato.
Paarl.
South Africa