Safety
Introduction
Safety at home
Wandering
Driving
Travel safety
Prepare for a disaster
Medication safety
Introduction
A person with Alzheimer's can live in the comfort of his or her own home or a caregiver's home, provided that safety measures are in place. As the disease progresses, the person's abilities will change. So situations that are not of concern today may become potential safety issues in the future.
Below are some safety tips. See also the Safety Center on our main alz.org site.
Safety at home
Adapt the home to the person's changing needs. Re-evaluate your home safety measures regularly as new issues may arise.
Tips:
- Use appliances that have an auto shut-off feature.
- Install a hidden gas valve or circuit breaker on the stove.
- Place deadbolts either high or low on exterior doors.
Wandering
Wandering and getting lost can put a person's safety in jeopardy. A person may be at risk for wandering if he or she comes back from a regular walk or drive later than usual; tries to fulfill former work obligations; or wants to "go home" even when at home.
Tips:
- Have the person move around and exercise to reduce anxiety agitation and restlessness.
- Ensure the person's basic needs are met (toileting, eating, thirst).
- Enroll in MedicAlert ® + Alzheimer's Association Safe Return ®, a nationwide identification program designed to assist in the return of those who wander and become lost.
Driving
Driving becomes a safety issue when the person fails to observe traffic signals, forgets how to locate familiar places or confuses the break and gas pedal. A person with dementia may insist on driving and refuse to give up the car keys.
Tips:
- Ask a doctor to write the person a "do not drive" prescription.
- Keep the car out of sight. Seeing the car may act like a visual cue to drive.
- Disable the car by removing the distributor cap or the battery.
- See our Driving Center for more tips.
Travel safety
Traveling with a person who has dementia requires careful planning and flexibility to ensure safety, comfort and enjoyment for everyone.
Tips:
- Stick with familiar travel destinations that involve as few changes in daily routine as possible.
- Travel during the time of day that is best for the person with dementia.
- Inform service staff at airlines, airports, bus terminals and hotels that you are traveling with a person with dementia and may need extra help.
Prepare for a disaster
Disaster situations, such as a hurricane, earthquake or fire, have significant impact on everyone's safety, but they can be especially upsetting and confusing for individuals with dementia.
Tips:
- Determine where you will go if you're forced to evacuate. Family, friends, hotels and shelters are options.
- Have phone numbers of family in case you will need to change locations during an emergency or evacuation; keep in touch with them as you move.
- Make an emergency kit that includes important documents, extra medications and a favorite possession that can calm and occupy the person.
Medication safety
Medications and how to manage their use safely is a big concern for many older people. For people with Alzheimer's, a doctor may prescribe medications that help ease disease symptoms, address depression or sleeplessness, or treat other medical conditions.
Tips:
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review all medication to check for possible drug interactions.
- Do not change dosages without first consulting the doctor.
- Use a bill pox organizer. You may find it helpful to keep a daily list or calendar and check off each dose as it is taken.
Next: Stress Relief
簡介
居家安全
走失
開車
旅行安全
做好應對災難的準備
藥物安全
簡介
如果安全措施準備就緒，阿滋海默症患者可在自己家中或照護者的家中舒適地生活。隨著該疾病的發展，患者的能力將發生變化。因此目前沒有任何問題的情況在未來可能成為潛在的安全問題。
以下是一些安全提示。此外請參見我們 alz.org 網站上的 Safety Center（安全中心）。
居家安全
使家庭適應患者不斷改變的需求。由於新的問題可能出現，經常重新評估您家的安全措施。
提示：
- 使用具有自動關斷功能的家電。
- 在烤箱上安裝隱蔽的氣閥或斷路器。
- 在外門的較高或較低位置放置門栓。
走失
走失和迷路會危及患者的安全。如果患者從經常走或行使的道路回來的比往常晚；嘗試執行先前的工作責任；甚至在家時想要「回家」，則其可能存在走失風險。
提示：
開車
當患者無法觀察交通訊號燈，忘記如何找到熟悉的地方或者搞不清哪個是制動踏板，哪個是油門踏板時，開車便成為一個安全問題。失智症患者可能會堅持要開車，並且拒絕交出車鑰匙。
提示：
旅行安全
與失智症患者一同旅行需要仔細計劃和彈性，以確保對每個人都安全，舒服和愉快。
提示：
- 堅持去往日常生活變化盡可能少的熟悉的旅行目的地。
- 在失智症患者處於最佳狀態的時間旅行。
- 告訴飛機，機場，公共汽車站和旅館的服務人員，您正在與失智症患者一同旅行，可能需要額外協助。
做好應對災難的準備
颶風，地震或火災等災難情況會嚴重影響每個人的安全，但這尤其會使失智症患者感到不安和不知所措。
提示：
- 如果您被迫要撤離，確定您將去的地方。可選擇去親友家，旅館和避難所。
- 記下家人的電話號碼，以免在出現緊急情況或撤離過程中您需要去其他地方；在您離開時與他們保持聯絡。
- 做一個急救包，裡面放置重要檔案，額外藥物，以及可令患者平靜和並使其有事情做的喜歡的物品。
藥物安全
藥物以及如何安全地管理它們的使用對許多年長者來說是一個大問題。對於阿滋海默症患者而言，醫生可能開出有助於緩解症狀，解決抑鬱或失眠問題或治療其他病症的藥物。
提示：
- 要去您的醫生或藥劑師檢視所有藥物，以檢查可能存在的藥物相互作用。
- 在未首先諮詢醫生的情況下請勿變更劑量。
- 使用藥單管理夾。您可能會發現保留每日清單或行事曆並在用藥時核對每個劑量非常有幫助。
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