Alzheimer's Safety Research Paper

Words: 477
Pages: 2

Alzheimer's Care – How to Combat Safety Concerns

Alzheimer's disease is an absolutely terrible diagnosis. Senior who hear those words may instantly start to worry about having to leave their home, about forgetting who they are or where they are, and so forth. Many of these quite legitimate fears revolve around safety. The good news is that with proper Alzheimer's care and support, a senior can be safe in their own home.

If your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, initially, understand that many of their fears are founded. As the disease progresses, they will lose their sense of time and place and may not be able to recognize where they are even within their own home. They will forget how to use appliances and other home equipment. Walking will become difficult and stairs will be an impossibility. With all of this to look forward to, how can they possibly be kept safe?

The first step is to look at the home through the lens of a person who has Alzheimer's. Are there objects in easy reach that are dangerous? Are the doors easy to open (this is not a good thing), are there tripping hazards, can a walker or wheelchair be used in the home?
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This makes securing doors a must. Any door can have an automatic closure device attached to it (like the kind you find on screen doors). Paired with an automatic lock this is a great place to start. Not every door needs to be locked, but those to the outside, upstairs, downstairs, the basement, the garage, and so forth, should be kept locked at all times. This may be an inconvenience to you, but it could save your loved one. Additionally, chain or slide bar locks placed high up and out of sight are important for securing the doors at night or when there is not direct