Guide helps prevent wandering dementia patients

As many as 60 per cent of people living with dementia will at some point become lost, putting their lives at risk. It’s a statistic the Alzheimer Society of Ontario hopes to reduce through a new program it has developed with funding from the Ontario Ministry of Seniors Affairs. In a media release, the Alzheimer Society’s chief program and public policy officer Lisa Salapatek said half “the people living with dementia who go missing for 24 hours face serious injury or death.” “It is everyone’s responsibility to keep these people safe. While having dementia presents challenges, there are many things we can do to manage the risk of getting lost or going missing,” she added. St. Catharines resident Lucille Bisaillon has personally experienced the terror when her husband with Alzheimer’s disappeared. “One terrifying morning I awoke early to discover my husband had left the house,” she said in the media release, adding she’d forgotten to lock an exterior gate. “I called the police and after organizing a search party they were able to find him sleeping in someone’s back yard – a several hour walk from our home. I learned a lot from this experience and securing our house became a priority for me before bed each night.” In an effort to prevent future occurrences, the charity developed the Finding Your Way program providing resources and strategies to help family and caregivers recognize the risks, and prepare for incidents when loved ones do wander off. The program also helps people living with dementia and their families maintain their quality of life. The resource guide can be downloaded at findingyourwayontario.ca/. Ontario Minister of Seniors Affairs Dipika Damerla called having a plan in place to reduce the risks associated with wandering off “is critical for people living with dementia and their caregivers.” “By raising awareness and using strategies through Finding Your Way, we can proactively keep people safe in their home and community,” he said in the media release.