Caring for a loved one with Dementia can be a really challenging journey. There are many moments of joy and love, but sometimes there are times of fear or worry. One of the most common concerns for families with a loved one battling this disease is the risk of their family members wandering off. Understanding how to prevent elderly people with dementia from wandering away is a crucial part of keeping them safe and something that will allow you the time to process everything too. Here, we’ll explore effective, proactive strategies and the importance of tools like Safebandd bracelets for elderly patients with dementia.
Dementia is a degenerative disease that, sadly, worsens over time. In the beginning, your loved one may display signs of simple forgetfulness or confusion. Things like, forgetting what they had for dinner or people’s names. This can then lead to much more severe forms of forgetfulness, like forgetting where they live, who they are and painfully, who you are in their life. This level of confusion and memory loss, make it extremely difficult for these individuals to recognise familiar places and faces. In itself, that is very disorientating for them and can be stressful for them. In some cases, they may even become somewhat aggressive - this is understandable, but very difficult to manage for their families. When the person becomes disoriented in their surroundings, though they are physically safe at home, they may think they are far from home and need to return there. In these cases, they will wander off, which is obviously very dangerous for them. Implementing some preventive measures and having a plan if they do wander is the core to ensuring their safety.
A Safebandd ID bracelet for dementia patients is a crucial safety device. Our bracelets rely on QR codes that store information that you input about your loved one. This can include their name, emergency contact details, any medical conditions, and any other important information that you may want to include. Such as, is there a topic that you know they can speak about still until the cows come home? Add it in! This not only makes it easier for the person who has found them to keep them engaged until you get there, but it also keeps your loved one calm when they are no doubt anxious and confused.
These bracelets are extremely comfortable, waterproof and highly durable, so they can be worn at all times. If your loved one does wander off, anyone who finds them can scan the QR code on their smartphone and instant access the details you upload. Plus, they are given an option to share their location with you, so you will receive a handy email that tells you where to go.
We can put in all the precautions we like, but there may still be instances where your loved one might wander off. That’s why we made Safebandd. In the event that they do wander off, and nobody has contacted you yet, here’s what you should do:
Preventing elderly people with dementia from wandering off involves a lot of layers. With patience, help and support you can keep your loved one safe. Safebandd has the clue in the title - ‘Safe’. We want to help keep everyone as safe as possible and we know that nobody can do it alone. A safety bracelet for elderly with dementia offers a practical way to give you some peace of mind if they do wander off, ensuring your loved one always has the necessary information at hand for their finder to help them. The strategies we have listed, hopefully offer some form of plan to help when you are embarking on this journey of care. Embrace these practices with love and care, and never forget that there are people and tools to support you.
Explore our range of ID bracelets designed to keep your family safe and connected. Together, we can make a difference.