Did you know preventative products can help your senior age in the comfort of their own home, particularly those suffering from dementia?
Chances are you have heard of the term ‘ageing in place’. Ageing in place refers to the process of remaining at home as you age gracefully, as opposed to moving into a care facility. According to a survey by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), more than three-quarters of Americans are keen to remain at home for as long as possible, even if they will need assistance. Aside from the financial benefits that ageing in place affords, it also allows adults to retain a level of autonomy and independence that care facilities cannot match.
Dementia and ageing in place may not seem like a well-functioning and safe partnership
This is because total autonomy is conducive to three factors: the person, the place, and the support network around them i.e., family caregivers. Ageing in place is thus a great option if the senior has made good preparations, the home is safe and accessible, and the support network is in place.
Unfortunately, seniors with dementia are often a health and safety risk when alone. Even in familiar places, a person with Alzheimer’s may not remember his or her name, address, and can become extremely disoriented. As such, wandering is a common issue amongst seniors suffering from this disease, particularly as it develops and starts to deteriorate their cognitive functions.
Asides from the risks that dementia patients pose to themselves from wandering, there is also often an increase in the risk of falls and fractures. The types of stress and anxiety caregivers experience because of wandering is so prolific that it can reduce many to extreme feelings of exhaustion and distress; a phenomenon coined as ‘caregiver burnout’.
Of course, no one can watch another person every second of every day. We are only human, and even the best and most dedicated caregiver can’t stop wandering every time. Yet, while wandering with dementia is extremely dangerous, there are strategies and products to help prevent it.
Anti-Wandering Alarms and Systems
Preventing wandering is one of the most challenging issues related to the care of a person with cognitive loss. As aforementioned, it’s physically impossible to watch over seniors at every second of every day, listening out for every creak at night when your loved ones move from their beds / chairs is an unsustainable way to live.
Thus, anti-wandering door exit alarms can be a lifesaving asset to any home.
Whether it is a door to the outside, the kitchen, or another area of the house, wandering through the wrong door at the wrong time can be dangerous for those with dementia. Without the necessary prevention tools in place, dementia patients could exit their home without supervision, leaving them susceptible to a whole host of problems, from getting lost to injuring themselves.
Consequently, products like Val-U-Care’s Anti-Wandering Door Bar System provides an early alert to caregivers that their loved ones are attempting to exit their home and thus attempts to mitigate any wandering-related problems. This product functions with just a door alarm and a resident wristband. Caregivers can simply mount the door monitor alarm by any exit or doorway in your home or care facility, plug it in, and place a wristband on the resident. When a resident wearing a wristband attempts to wander too close or through the doorway, the door monitor alarm sounds audibly and visually for those caregivers to respond speedily to the alert.
Additional anti-wandering systems, such as floor mats, are also great options for seniors aging in place. The system can be located at the front door or bedroom doorway to alert you that a person has wandered from their bed, or at the threshold of the kitchen or bathroom; alerting you that the senior is exiting a location, posing a significant danger to themselves if unattended. These systems can be extremely effective and often more discreet as they do not rely on the patient wearing a wristband. A caregiver can also remove in-door alarm noise too, pivotal for those dementia patients who are extremely sensitive to sensory perceptions and thus easily startled by loud noises.
Moreover, as these anti-wandering systems are wireless cordless pads with a wireless cordless monitor, you do not need to worry about seniors tripping over the systems when up and about.
These early alerts can make such a huge difference to the patient’s welfare and can help to avoid the inevitability of nasty falls that occur because of wandering. They also provide that much-needed respite for caregivers who are constantly battling with feelings of anxiety and distress synonymous with caring for loved ones.
What makes Val-U-Care stand out?
Historically, in the industry, door exit alarms have cost thousands of dollars and needed a technician to install & maintain, making them non-accessible to those who do not have the financial means to purchase them.
Val-U-Care has made anti-wandering exit alarms that are DIY and affordable. Without the need for an installer to install the products, you can easily incorporate any anti-wandering system within your home. Whether it is placing a cordless mat on any exit areas or just purchasing an anti-wandering alarm, pager, and wristband there is no intricate or advanced technical installation required. They are also extremely budget-friendly, particularly in comparison to care home facilities that can cost an average of $7,756 per month. For as little as $169, you can help prevent your senior from wandering, providing a wealth of emotional, physical, and financial issues synonymous with aging in place and caregiving.
For more information, visit our online store to find out how we can help.
