I am screening various Memory Care facilities for my Mom with vascular dementia and have heard horror stories of patients wandering into other patients rooms at any hour of the night, while they are sleeping. What is the typical/expected way to prevent this? My Mom would never sleep again if this happened to her.
Lot of facilities use a banner or strap across the doorway that has a Stop Sign on it. It is attached with Velcro so can come off easily. It seemed to really work for most wandering.
Some memory care units have 4 beds in one room with only privacy curtains between them. There is not much you can do about that.
Usually by that stage in their dementia only redirection will work.
Nothing about dementia is easy.
There are call buttons in every room. There are aides and nurses in the hallways 24/7 keeping an eye on their patients. Mom can always call out as well if she’s uncomfortable.
It is impossible to lock the doors of patient rooms to prevent this as this would be a safety/fire hazard issue. A confused patient can not unlock a door. Maybe you could ask if they could put a "baby gate" in the doorway of your mother's room. However, they have to comply with fire codes and that may not be possible and it may be considered a "restraint" or a tripping hazard.
Most places have cameras in hallways and staff do hourly checks. "Wandering", unfortunately, is something that has to be dealt with if you are going to place your loved one in memory care. As you can see, there is no "prevention".
At some point YOUR mom may be the one who's going into other rooms. We all have to take it in stride. This is typical behavior of dementia patients.
Placing my Mom in a care home was a responsibility that terrified me because I would no longer be there to protect or directly manage her care.
it becomes clear very quickly what a care facility’s strengths and weaknesses are.
Night wandering is common with dementia.
Any facility that that cares for people with dementia should have the knowledge, skills and professionalism for monitoring and working with these behaviors.
Ask the facilities you interview how how they manage this. Their answers should reassure you. And, if they do not - follow your intuition and move the facility down or off your list.
I think that in any working relationship with a care home, communication is crucial. Choose a facility that you are comfortable communicating with and where the staff is responsive to your concerns - especially when things don’t go well.
Best of of luck to you. And, remember to take care of yourself too.
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