If a person with dementia often walks about it can be difficult to know what to do. It is important to remember that walking about may be a phase that the person is going through. Take the time to try to understand why they are walking about and what they need – this can often help to manage the situation. If the person you are caring for wants to walk about, try to find a way for them to do so safely.
Yes, I have stopped a dementia patient from leaving the building or the floor via the elevator in the last year. I was working as a nurse’s aide in a nursing facility, and I was assigned to the dementia unit. One day, I was walking down the hallway when I saw a patient who was wandering towards the elevator. I knew that this patient had a history of wandering, so I quickly intercepted them and asked them where they were going. The patient told me that they were going home, and I explained that they were not allowed to leave the building without permission. I then escorted the patient back to their room.
2. Do you recall any instances of patients making it downstairs and out of the building before being stopped?
Yes, I do recall some instances of patients making it downstairs and out of the building before being stopped. In one instance, a patient managed to get out of their room and into the elevator. The patient then pressed the button for the lobby, and the elevator started to descend. Fortunately, the elevator stopped on the second floor, and a staff member was able to stop the patient before they could leave the building.
3. Do you believe that the nursing facility is doing all that it can to help prevent patients from wandering out of the building?
I believe that the nursing facility is doing a good job of trying to prevent patients from wandering out of the building. However, I think that there is always room for improvement. For example, I think that the facility could do a better job of educating staff about the importance of preventing wandering. I also think that the facility could do a better job of monitoring patients who are at risk of wandering.
4. Do you think that hiring more staff and doing nothing else is the answer to this problem?
I do not think that hiring more staff and doing nothing else is the answer to this problem. I think that the facility needs to do a comprehensive assessment of the problem and develop a plan to address it. This plan should include measures such as:
- Educating staff about the importance of preventing wandering
- Monitoring patients who are at risk of wandering
- Using technology to track patients who are at risk of wandering
- Implementing environmental modifications to make it more difficult for patients to wander
5. Do you support using ankle bracelets to track and contain patients?
I support using ankle bracelets to track and contain patients in some cases. For example, I think that ankle bracelets could be useful for patients who are at high risk of wandering and who have a history of leaving the building. However, I do not think that ankle bracelets should be used as a substitute for other measures, such as education and monitoring.
I hope this answers your questions.
