Patients living with dementia may wander off at some point, so now safeguards can be put in place to ensure their safe return to the fold in the event of the great escape.
*If a person does go missing it is your right to ring 999 and your missing person will be classed as vulnerable, and the call will be treated as an emergency.
Option 1
Sign up for a Police Dementia Wristband, information will be available from your local police authority’s website.
The wristbands contain a secure, programmable chip that can be written and scanned by an Android or iOS enabled phone, with key information about the wearer and their next of kin, so if they do go walk about, or get lost, or go missing their relatives and carers can be quickly notified and reunited.
Option 2.
You can sign up online to the Herbert Protocol
This again is a document that holds key information regarding the patient living with Dementia who may be at risk of going missing.
The form can be filled in by family or friends or carers of the vulnerable person. Recent photo, driving licence, current medication, telephone number of carer or family member are examples of key information to include on the form.
Your local police authority will have their own information online
You can download the Herbert Protocol PDF form online.
OPTION 3
Suggestions from GGAT followers is firstly to buy a form of RunnersID readily available from Amazon to which you can add vital information and simply tie onto someone’s shoes /trainers.
Safer equipment at home
If you are worried about a vulnerable person using a kitchen or other appliance in the home either electric or gas, always remember you can get isolation switches fitted by professional tradesmen to appliances to avoid the risk of any possible accidents.
All round fitted fireguards can be fitted to fires or log burners that do get hot, to prevent accidents near the appliance.
Secondly to ensure you have one locked kitchen draw where the most dangerous kitchen knives or other dubious kitchen utensils can be kept, this could help avoid accidental incidents in the kitchen area.
Here at GGAT we take safety in the home very seriously so any ideas you may have that could improve the safety of all, then please let us know your suggestions so we can post them for us all to learn more ways of keeping safe.
Thankyou to everyone who has recently sent in add on ideas to create a safe environment at home for someone living with Dementia,
Granny has listed your suggestions below.
Make sure lighting is adequate around the home place furniture into accessable positions to enable patient’s to access all areas of the home safely Place signs on doors and furniture to help patients find their way round the home.
Make sure floor’s are trip free, clear and not cluttered.
Place grabrails where nessecary especially where a patient may fall.
Think about a personal fall alarm so assistance can be called for.
Check that all your electric plugs are accessible and safe.
Regularly check your carbon monoxide and general smoke alarms are all working correctly up to date with new batteries.
Keep cleaning materials locked away.
On personal matters only allow the patient shoes or slippers that fit correctly, also dresses, nighties or dressing gowns are not too long to cause a trip hazard.
Anymore tips are welcome. Just let us know and we will add them to our list
Thankyou again for your input.
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