dementia support - right or wrong?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-22330233

Re: dementia support - right or wrong?

I find it's so easy to start shouting stuff like "treating people like criminals" and the horrors of Big Brother and so on, when they don't neccessarily know what they are talking about.

I was carer to my Mother who had Vascular Dementia - similar to Altzimers - for quite some time before I had to commit her to a home. Whilst she was at home, she wandered off and got lost and nearly all her possessions and money at the time, because she simply did not know what she was doing. That incident involved the police with tracker dogs, until she was seen aimlessly wandering about, not knowing where she was.

When she was put in a home, someone left the door open and she got out and was found in the middle of the road, late at night, totally lost where she could have been hit by a car or whatever.

I support this, it is not a criminalisation of someone, it is a means of keeping a careful eye on someone which has lost (or losing) sense of bearing, direction, rationality and can put themselves at very serious risk. I wish the system could have been in place in regard to my mother and I could have slept more comfortably knowing she would be safe.

It's all too easy to spout "human rights", but when someone begins to lost thier mind, someone has to be there to make sure this person is safe and looked after. This is just another tool to make this happen. Perhaps someone from the PC brigade should spend some time with people with dementia and see what goes on before shouting thier mouths off.

Re: dementia support - right or wrong?

What a brilliant idea, I hope my family get me one if I ever get it.
The article did say those that regularly go missing, that will save a persons life.
Now I work with a dementia sufferer, and believe me they need it, the worse they get.

Re: dementia support - right or wrong?

It seems a practical and sensible idea to me. What's the problem? Better surely than to find your relative has wandered off and is in possible danger.

Re: dementia support - right or wrong?

Its happened a few times where I live - its a great idea - how many times tho' have they got to go missing - not many I hope !

Re: dementia support - right or wrong?

I think it's a brilliant idea and must take a lot of pressure off worried relatives who continually worry if their loved one is safe.

Re: dementia support - right or wrong?

I'd be perfectly fine with such a program, whether for a loved one or myself. It's fine for people to say what's needed is human interaction, but that can't be guaranteed 24/7. What if someone gets up during the night and wanders outside?

My grandmother was in care where you had to key in a passcode to exit the building. This didn't stop one old gal from slipping out behind somebody and wandering, in broad daylight. She went into a coffee shop and someone bought her a hot drink while the owner, on a hunch, called the home and they sent someone to escort her back.

Re: dementia support - right or wrong?

My husband Aunt disappeared from her home one night we all spent the following day in bits wondering where she was, turned up 45 miles away naked at a bus station. She never could tell us where she had been or what happened to her. Just one person forgetting to lock the front door allowed her to be in danger.

This looks like a really good idea to me would have saved her from whatever happened to her in that 16 hour period she was missing.

Re: dementia support - right or wrong?

need we add more - you may recall my account of a good friend of mine who lives in the heart of London - his wife with dementia took off one day and was out walking the streets of London for 12 hrs and into the night - she was finally found asleep in a bus shelter by the police. she was dishevelled, obviously exhausted and even more confused. he supports the identification tags of course not only does it reduce these incidences that can end tragically but saves a lot of time for police and other services.

These devices are for saving distress and the lives of those wearing them - they are protecting 'human rights' - if we don't use them we are reducing 'human rights' by saying well off you go walkabout and perhaps die? - were's the human right in that?

Re: dementia support - right or wrong?

I don't understand all the aggro about this. Some of us (yes I have one) have been wearing (Care link) alarms for quite some time, my Mother had one, and I now wear one too, since immediately following my last hip operation I felt quite vulnerable as I live alone. The alarm is connected to my telephone. If I have an accident and injure myself no-one would necessarily know for many days and even if they did suspect anything, wouldn't be able to get in to check. This alarm, once triggered, 'phones the Care-link service and irrespective where I am in my flat, I can be heard and if necessary assistance can be summoned. There are three people who have a set of keys to my flat and if the alarm is triggered, Care-link can contact them to come and check on me. If necessary medical assistance can be summoned too.