Persons With Dementia Who Become Lost in the Community: A Case Study, Current Research, and Recommendations

The objective was to explore caregivers' experience of and concerns about the safety of care recipients (CRs) with Alzheimer's disease (AD) living at home. We interviewed family caregivers about their concerns regarding CR's safety, occurrence of risk over the last year and safety measures taken to manage risk. A total of 89 family caregiver/CR dyads participated. All had been recruited as part of a larger longitudinal study based in London and South East Region (LASER) of the UK. Caregivers spent a substantial proportion of the day supervising the CR (mean = 15.5 hours). Most caregivers (39; 81.2%) of the 48/89 CRs left alone worried about their safety. Sixty-one (68.5%) caregivers reported at least one incident in which the CR had been at risk within the past year. A majority (71; 79.8%) had taken measures to prevent risk behaviours. Greater impairment in activities of daily living and the caregiver not being the CR's spouse were associated with more measures being taken. Caregivers themselves provide supervision most of the time for the CR, and are worried when they are left alone. This is realistic as despite caregiver's attempts at managing their CR's risks, including direct supervision, dangerous incidents still frequently occur in people with AD.

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“…Tel: þ44 (0)20 7288 5931. E-mail: rejuaew@ucl.ac.uk Hope, Keene, Gedling, Fairburn, & Jacoby, 1998;Rowe, Feinglass, & Wiss, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caregivers’ experience of risk in dementia: The LASER-AD Study

Walker

Livingston

Cooper

et al. 2006

Aging & Mental Health

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“…That feeling of panic - of strangeness and disorientation - is what occurs in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) for those who have problems wayfinding. As the disease progresses, getting lost can become a profound problem for persons with AD and their caregivers, even leading to institutionalization or death if individuals get lost in the community (Rowe, 2003). In a qualitative study of persons with moderate stage dementia in an assisted living residence, Caspi (2014) describes the wayfinding problems experienced.…”

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confidence: 99%

Creating a Supportive Environment Using Cues for Wayfinding in Dementia

Davis¹,

Weisbeck²

2016

J Gerontol Nurs

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The ability to find one’s way in the world, known as wayfinding, is impaired in persons with Alzheimer’s disease. Senior residential environments such as independent living, assisted living, and nursing home residences are often especially difficult for wayfinding, with long, non-distinctive hallways and poorly differentiated routes. Wayfinding problems can cause anxiety, distress, and decreased interaction in persons with dementia. Visual cues are one promising intervention to help persons with Alzheimer’s disease find their way more easily. This article reviews research studies that examine the influence of visual cues on wayfinding. The literature shows evidence that persons with Alzheimer’s disease have difficulty wayfinding, yet can still learn their way if the environment is supportive for wayfinding. There is beginning evidence that colorful, familiar (easily identified), and personally meaningful cues placed at key decision points and the residents’ rooms can help persons with Alzheimer’s find their way.

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“…In dementia, getting lost behavior (GLB) can lead to institutionalization, increased risks of accidents (Rowe, 2003), and negative emotional responses. About 36.9% of patients with dementia get lost outside their homes, while 28.3% get lost inside their homes (Ballard et al, 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%