Guarding Against Wandering
Posted by Patti on August 13th, 2007 / Print This Post
Wander Guard type devices have been in nursing homes for years now. The tech is just catching on for the other markets- esp. family caregivers. This might be a good thing since wandering is one of the top reasons people with Alzheimer’s are placed into nursing homes.
HAINESPORT, N.J. (AP) - It looks like a toy, but the bracelet locked around Bob Melnick’s wrist gives his wife some peace of mind: If this Alzheimer’s patient wanders off and gets lost, he’s wearing a tracking beacon to help bring him home.“I’m a marked man,” joked Melnick, of Hainesport, N.J. “The police can pick me up anywhere.”
Wandering is one of the most frightening symptoms of advancing dementia, and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates it will happen to nearly 60 percent of patients.
A mini-industry of technologies promises to find lost Alzheimer’s patients - from simple radio-wave beacons that cost $10 a month for batteries, to more-sophisticated GPS devices that can cost hundreds of dollars.
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Radiofrequency “tags” are a hot topic for assisted-living facilities. Patients wear a sensor read by receivers on doors that sound an alarm when someone strolls too far.Then there’s the more traditional beacon like Melnick’s, which emits a radiofrequency signal for rescue workers to hunt.
“That kind of technology is the most flexible, because it doesn’t require GPS or infrastructure. But it doesn’t work if you don’t notice the person is gone,” Kautz said.
Whatever the transmitter, there’s the question of how to ensure the patient doesn’t wander off without it. Some systems require carrying cell phones; others come in hard-to-remove jewelry; one company sells sneakers implanted with a GPS chip.
The best technology will alert caregivers as to when they’re loved ones/patients exit, and then send signals as to where they are.
And the devices must be subtle and barely noticeable to the person since they will try to remove them.
A word of caution, from those of us who work or have worked with these devices: Don’t become too reliant upon them. Don’t have too much peace of mind…one breakdown in the system is all it takes for an elopement to occur. And they occur often.
August 14th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
It’s not really fair that so many people think their loved ones will be “SAFE” in a nursing home setting; exit seekers get out, all the time. Door alarm systems break down; wander guard bracelets and anklets are removed (by the residents) all the time. It’s great to have the alarms ring, but what happens after they escape? Some places have that GPS stuff, which is good if you know the area or have police who will help out. I think the more technology we get the better…but how about looking at the causes of wandering in the first place? Can’t we fix those needs before spending millions on these bandaids?
August 15th, 2007 at 6:12 am
I;m not in total agreement that the causes of wandering are related to boredom and lack of activity. People with dementia leave activities all the time to seek a way “home”, to look for their “children” ect ect. However activities can deter them and keep them occupied during key hours, such as change of shift when so many do tend to wander. Late afternoon and early evening sundowning is a well known problem- this is when we need to provide better supervision and yes, activities.
September 3rd, 2007 at 9:18 pm
how can we stop someone from getting up and falling? we have a resident who has fallen twice??:?::(:(
September 5th, 2007 at 9:21 am
Well to begin with try making sure the resident is settled: bathroom? hunger? uncomfortable? thirsty?
then try activities.
then go to a chair alarm.
September 6th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
Have physical therapy evauluate the resident !
A fall from the bed ? options: bed alarm, put mattress on floor, canopy bed (zips up).
A fall from wheelchair to floor? wheelchair alarm, lap buddy restraint, geri chair with a tabletop, merry walker,pommel cushion (positioning device in w/c)- or walk the resident up and down the hall if able several times a day. I have had a few residents of mine in the past 20 years that I simply put in a wheelchair, took them with me during medication pass right next to med cart, talked to them, gave them a newspaper, magazine to read-like us they get bored and some just want to get up and ramble to find something to do!
INVOLVE THE FAMILY to find a solution !! MAKE SURE THE FAMILY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DOCUMENT !!!
September 6th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Wander guards are ok, BUT, send a resident to the hospital with one on and it never comes back, the resident at times readmitted, one is not reapplied, and ????????? Some residents look like average citizens and have seen some very well meaning visitors let the resident out the door not realizing it is a patient they are letting out the door-and ignoring the alarm going off !!! We have the coded keypad controls on our doors which you have to enter the code in to get in and out, some of our residents even know the codes so………..