Understanding Dementia Helping the Lost Become Found

Dementia

 3 characteristic problems  short and long term memory loss  AND at least one of the following  Impairment of abstract thinking   Impaired judgment Personality changes

Causes of Dementia

   Alzheimer’s disease  destruction of brains neurons Many strokes, Parkinson’s disease Early to late stage  early  memory loss  impaired judgment  late   unable to care for self requires total care

Brief Description

 Signs and symptoms of dementia   ask the caregiver memory loss - thought problems  unable to remember name, address, phone numbers        why they are in that location how to get help repetitive questions inability to stay focused inability to follow the conversation inappropriate statements can’t figure out setting

  judgmental problems  improper dress  improper behavior for the setting  what role law enforcement has encourage SAFE RETURN REGISTRATION

Behavioral Problems

  wandering or become lost in the community  Safe Return   program administered by national Alzheimer’s Association similar to ‘medic alert’  24 hour operators  provide information on residence and contacting caregiver agitation/aggression    symptom of disease not a sign of a worrisome situation time limited

Communicating with a persons with dementia

   questioning likely provide little useful information   simple face the individual  repeat 1-2x  use clues to help form the question may provoke agitation look for clues  Safe return ID or clothing tags  personal identification

Recognizing a lost elder with dementia

  inappropriate behavior for situation   clothing/weather clothing/social standards   walking in street unable to cross the street  wandering aimlessly occurs in best situations  homes and institutional settings

Characteristics of the lost

        unable to return home either walking aimlessly ‘hiding’ in a natural area most likely on foot unable to protect themselves likely won’t respond to your call unlikely to ask for help may occur in anyone with dementia

Search Strategies

 identify a search strategy  to cover an increasing circumference of where last seen  start with 1 mile   go out to 5 miles > 5 mi unusual, but not usually associated with death, so less focus needed  cover all possibilities within that range  streets, highways    residential yards easily accessible buildings  convenience stores, hospitals continue through night

   reconsider search strategy after ~ 6 hours   identify natural areas within 1 mile range conduct shoulder-to-shoulder search  increase circumference to about 5 miles REFER TO ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION ENCOURAGE SAFE RETURN REGISTRATION

 contact information  Alzheimer’s Association  Lynda Everitt  372-6266  UF College of Nursing  Meredeth Rowe  846-0678