Advice for managing memory loss

Five tips for ensuring comfort, safety of aging loved ones with dementia

An estimated 5.7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, and a whopping 80 percent of those with the disease or another form of dementia are cared for in the home by family members. Dementia creates many challenges that family caregivers are often not sure how to handle, but addressing them is vital for your loved one’s safety and comfort.

The following are some tips to help family members care for their loved ones suffering from memory loss:

• Use GPS technology: It is an unfortunate reality that three out of five people with Alzheimer’s will wander. Locating them quickly is vital to their safe return. One way to do that is by purchasing a GPS tracking device. It can be a watch or pendant or even an innersole that fits in a shoe. These devices often work off of wireless technology that allows families to determine a loved one’s location in real time.

• Manage medication: Another safety consideration is how to stay on track with medication. Seniors with early Alzheimer’s might be living alone but becoming increasingly forgetful. There are several different types of electronic pill dispensers that can help. Hiring an in-home caregiver is another solution.

• Practice kitchen safety: Staying safe while preparing meals is another challenge, whether the senior lives alone or with loved ones. Walking away and forgetting about a pan cooking on the stove is a risk that increases as the disease progresses. There are devices available that can sense when a pan on the stove has been unattended too long and turns the stove off.

• Monitor finances: Adults with memory impairment often develop poor judgment. When combined with forgetfulness, it can make managing financial affairs difficult. Seniors with dementia will pay some bills twice while neglecting others. They also fall victim to scams and fraud more often because their judgment is compromised. Depending on what stage of the disease a senior is in, families can assist them by monitoring accounts online or by managing all of the senior’s finances for them.

• Ensure home safety: Families should conduct a home safety audit of wherever the senior lives. Look for potential hazards such as knives and toxic cleaning products. The Alzheimer’s Association’s Safety at Home Guide is a good resource to refer to for the safety audit.