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My husband and I are leaving this weekend (first time we’ve left overnight since we moved my 91 year old, wheelchair bound grandfather into our home six months ago. Much needed break. His aides will be picking up more hours to make sure he gets dinner and nighttime meds/routine done (they usually only do morning shift and I do the evenings). We lock the door every night, but no one will be here overnight with him and I worry what if something happens and he needs an ambulance or there’s a fire, etc? How will help get in? How do we keep him safe while also protecting against break ins?? We’re in a great neighborhood, but I can’t help but think of the what ifs and now I’m worrying. This was an impromptu and well pretty emergent get away for my own mental health, and I just thought of this detail now at midnight and can’t sleep over it!

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Do have a caregiver stay overnight.
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Hktj1711 May 2020
Thank you. I didn’t even think. This is all new territory for me. I will ask the caregiver to stay overnight; I’m sure she will have no problem, we will just pay her more!
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For next time, have him wear a call button that will let you and first responders know of a fall or other urgent need. And have a Knoxbox installed somewhere on the front of your home. My dad has one on the backside of his front porch post. It contains a housekey, and only first responders can open it, much better than having the door broken down to get help.
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HKTJ,
Putting this here so others may know you have solved the logistics of caring for your 91 y. o. grandfather. Good on you!


Hktj1711
14 hours ago
"Thank you. I didn’t even think. This is all new territory for me. I will ask the caregiver to stay overnight; I’m sure she will have no problem, we will just pay her more! "

😍
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I'd be afraid to leave my 91 year old loved one alone over night or any time for the most part.  Can you get or pay anyone to stay with him over night?  And keep his routine?  Think of what could happen with him alone .. what if he fell? got sick? confused?  Just to many what ifs.  Like leaving a small child alone over night.
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Some medical alerts have a locked box where you can put keys in to get into the house.
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I am concerned that you think it is OK for your grandfather - who has round the clock care - to be left without help in the evening. Granted, he will most likely be sleeping, but consider the legal ramifications if there was a fall, a fire, a home health aide not showing up, or other emergency. May I suggest having a sitter for him in the evenings.
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You can't go from 24/7 care to day time only. Get one of the helpers to stay all night. He will be safe and you won't have to worry.

If you don't install some kind of key box that emergency people have access to, they will break windows or the door to get in. Not to mention, it might create problems for you as to why you left him alone. Not worth the worry.
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The others have provided good answers:

Have a caregiver stay overnight in your absence. (easiest immediate solution)
Have a key-pad lockbox or Knox box place on your front door.

It is not safe for an elderly person in a wheelchair to be left totally alone. If he should fall out of the wheelchair accidently and find himself lying on the floor, he will not be able to get up to "summon help."

Meanwhile, I recommend getting him one of those necklaces whereby he can summon help. It should be worn at all times. However, this is assuming that he is "cognizant" enough to be able to know to push the button.
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Like many others have said, you can’t go from 24/7 to someone just coming in to check on him. He needs a nighttime sitter there on site and someone to come in and see about him during the day for meals, meds and to ensure he stays hydrated. And you can purchase some indoor cameras to check on all that to give you peace of mind. Locking a wheelchair bound 91 year old in a house alone is asking for APS and the police to come after you, and with a vengeance.
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I am very happy you made the choice to have someone stay with him at night. You probably also might have a plan to get him out of the house if there is a fire when you are home. I don't know where you live but even in town, it takes at least 3 minutes for help to arrive. Depending on where the fire starts three minutes is a long time.
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