WANDERERS NEED HELP

It takes a village to raise a child, the proverb goes, and as Blair Crawford reports in today’s Citizen, it may well take the whole community to care for those who wander away from safety because of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

In heartbreaking detail, Crawford describes those who walk away from their caregivers; explains the stress and the worry of people whose loved ones have done so; and shows how perilous the problem can be for everyone.

About 60 per cent of those with Alzheimer’s wander at some point. Some are responding to specific triggers (such as nightfall) and may be looking for former homes, reverting to old habits, or simply be confused. They can quickly become lost.

Solutions vary: GPS trackers can assist in finding them; furniture can be placed strategically to impede exit from a building; hiding coats and boots can minimize the mental triggers for wandering. The Missing Seniors Home Network, a sort of Amber Alert system for the elderly, allows people to register their loved ones.

But walking off with no warning still occurs among many. And none of these solutions are foolproof or enough to help everyone. The police shoulder much of the burden of trying to locate these wanderers, who may quickly become missing persons cases.

More than half a million Canadians have Alzheimer’s or dementia. Over the next decade-and-a-half, that could climb to 1.5 million, as the population ages. Education for families, caregivers and the community should begin now. Absent a cure — there is none at this stage — vigilance and sensitivity can still go a long way.

Thankfully, about 95 per cent of those who walk off are found within one kilometre of their home. But in a winter city such as Ottawa, it can be extremely dangerous to be lost for even a few moments.

What can we do? First, get to know a little about your neighbours, and particularly about the elderly ones. Sgt. Reno Rushford, with the Ottawa Police Service’s Missing Persons Unit, points out that in years past, people knew their neighbours better than they do today. Second, if you see an elderly person outside who looks confused or lost, or who has been sitting in a coffee shop or mall for hours, ask politely if they are OK. Point them out to store or mall employees, who may know them or who may realize it’s time for police to assist.

These are people who once looked after us. Now we should all look after them. Tyler Dawson, for the Citizen editorial board