In earlier blog posts, we discussed medication dispensers, alarms systems, and phones with picture dialing to help people in the early-moderate stages of dementia stay in their own home. Here are a few more items to put in your toolbox!
Door Murals
In addition to door alarms, a door mural depicting something other than a portal to the outside world may deter a person with dementia from exiting. There are several on the market that are made of a nice thick, wallpaper-like material that adhere easily on most doors and can actually even make people without dementia take a second glance. We have one in our Center and several repeat visitors have walked by and said “hey, when did you get the new bookshelf?”, and seconds later remember that it was, and is, a door.
The new door murals from the Alzheimer Store are much more expensive than they used to be; however, they are now made of “Class A, Fire-rated Polyvinyl” which, according to the manufacturer, are non-combustible, self-extinguishing, and may actually improve the fire-rating of the door.
No-Start Car Disconnect
Many people fear that the person with dementia they care for will take off in the car one day and end up in an accident or lost forever. This No-Start Car Disconnect connects to the battery and with a simple turn of a switch every night, it can prevent the car from starting.
Electric Plug Lock
Care providers need access to electrical devices such as a toaster, microwave, and iron; however, they do not necessarily want the person with dementia to have access to them. A simple Electric Plug Lock locked on to each plug can prevent this from happening. Simply slip the lock onto the plug and turn the key and repeat to remove. That simple!
What are some of your great finds to aid a person with dementia to continue to live in their own home?
Hello,
Would you include a safety bed, requiring caregiver assistance to get in and out of the bed, as a ‘great tool’ for the toolbox?
Thanks,
Adam
This would be an item to take into consideration. Thanks for the input, Adam.
Great post!!
Regarding the electric plug lock mentioned above i have to say that in theory such gadgets seem fine but will inevitably fall on their face because they require to be actively reset/re-engaged … my wife’s mother has had an incident with her microwave that has raised the need for access to be available only to carers who come in … so whether we install a plug lock, a locking socket, a child-proof device they all need to be physically reset so we become dependent on the carer’s diligent re-setting after each use … a big ask … what we need is the availability of a microwave which has a program in its repertoire which would enable the machine to be by default locked, requiring say a key code input to unlock … AND an automatic lock reset after a set period of inactivity … surely in this high-tech age it would not be beyond the wit of a manufacturer to include such a feature …
Alan D Kerr