'Wandering' is a term used to describe a memory concern where a person, perhaps with a memory problem or in early onset dementia, cannot remember how to get home or to their destination, is lost, and may appear confused.
A seemingly a-technological, anti-wandering device is a simple mock-up "bus stop". The idea is that when a person with dementia mentions wanting to collect the grandchildren or to go shopping etc, they may start to go, ie wander. A "honeypot" for many, if not most seniors in life is the bus as a means of transport. We all wait for buses. If a care home garden has a bus stop two possible functions arise:
- the place becomes a meeting place
- the bus stop is then honeypot for social interaction
- it is a place where a wanderer may be found.
This post attempts to flag up findings in the literature on the need to give attention to more technological ways of preventing or mitigation a propensity a person with dementia may have to wander. Not all living with dementia will wander and if a person does, it may be a passing phase. Nevertheless it may become a concern for all including carers and families.
The practical steps and assistive technology at home or in a care setting that might be taken are numerous, and some are not without opposing views. They include:
- A life record and a recent head and shoulders photograph (taken within the last six months
- a card giving personal details - name, address etc - and contact details of the person's carer or family member
- 'assistive' care technology involving which surveys movement within the home or care setting, eg care home
- exit doors and gates with devices clocks, lights or other means of informing the wanderer or warning alarms to warn a carer or nurse
- Signage which shows the individual, for example, that the route being taken leads to a particular location, eg the garden
- A GPS device carried by the person with dementia which shows where he or she is if wandering.
For Swanley and the county, the charity, Kent Search and Rescue (KSAR) (coordinating with Kent Fire and Rescue Service and the Kent Police) will conduct a search for a missing person. KSAR recommends the writing the life history or record to include:
- places which the wanderer particularly likes or dislikes
- a colour photograph taken on the days on which the clocks are changed [For the benefit of readers who are overseas - our clocks are changed by one hour twice a year for daylighting purposes.]
- Any other information which may assist in any search.
A note of the clothing a person is wearing or may be thought to be wearing might also be useful to the searchers.
Other assistive technology allows a carer to have a record of or to monitor the movement of a resident within their home, or when they leave it. However, devices at the exit doorway may be in place to set off an alarm in the supervisor's office or to gently warn the wanderer of the time of day by say, "It is night time." or by showing an illuminated clock. Another device might be a mat with an embedded warning signal. [It is of course important not to distress the person.]
The Sussex Police have a scheme based on a GPS device for persons living with dementia. It shows where the wearer is located. More detail of the adoption of the device is given by copying/pasting the link:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/may/01/dementia-police-tracking-device
Finally, in South Korea Dr Young Mi Lim is conducting research into links between wandering and wayfinding by those with dementia.
