Alzheimer's Disease: Home Safety Information (cont.)
Is it Safe to Leave the Person With Alzheimer's disease Alone?
This issue needs careful
evaluation and is certainly a safety concern. The following points may help you
decide. Does the person with Alzheimer's disease:
- become confused or unpredictable under stress?
- recognize a dangerous situation; for example, fire?
- know how to use the telephone in an emergency?
- know how to get help?
- stay content within the home?
- wander and become disoriented?
- show signs of agitation, depression, or withdrawal when left alone for any period of time?
- attempt to pursue former interests or hobbies that might now warrant supervision such as cooking, appliance repair, or woodworking?
You may want to seek input and advice from a health care professional to
assist you in these considerations. As Alzheimer's disease progresses, these
questions will need ongoing evaluation.
Home Safety Room-By-Room
Prevention begins with a safety check of every room
in your home. Use the following room-by-room checklist to alert you to potential
hazards and to record any changes you need to make. You can buy products or
gadgets necessary for home safety at stores carrying hardware, electronics,
medical supplies, and children's items.
Keep in mind that it may not be necessary to make all of the suggested
changes. This article covers a wide range of safety concerns that may arise, and
some modifications may never be needed. It is important, however, to re-evaluate
home safety periodically as behavior and abilities change.
Your home is a personal and precious environment. As you go through this
checklist, some of the changes you make may impact your surroundings positively,
and some may affect you in ways that may be inconvenient or undesirable. It is
possible, however, to strike a balance. Caregivers can make adaptations that
modify and simplify without severely disrupting the home. You may want to
consider setting aside a special area for yourself, a space off-limits to anyone
else and arranged exactly as you like. Everyone needs private, quiet time, and
as a caregiver, this becomes especially crucial.
A safe home can be a less stressful home for the person with Alzheimer's
disease, the
caregiver, and family members. You don't have to make these changes alone. You
may want to enlist the help of a friend, professional, or community service such
as the Alzheimer's Association.
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