Safety tips for Alzheimer’s Caregivers By Lisa M. Petsche

Over time, Alzheimer’s disease results in mental, emotional, behavioral and physical changes. These may include memory loss, altered perception, impaired judgment, disorientation to time and place, constant movement, wandering from home and becoming lost, rummaging (in drawers and closets, for example), behaving in ways that don’t appear to make sense, altered sleep patterns, paranoia, verbal and physical aggression, decreased muscle strength and a tendency to stumble and fall.

A variety of safety issues consequently arise in caring for someone with this disease. Although many Alzheimer behaviors don’t respond to medication, caregivers can adapt the home environment to discourage or minimize associated risks. The following tips constitute a good start.

Preventing falls

• Ensure your loved one has a pair of non-skid slippers or shoes that fit snugly and offer good support.

• Ensure throw rugs and scatter mats have a non-skid backing. Better yet, remove them, since they are a common cause of falls.

• Keep walkways clear of electrical and telephone cords.

• Eliminate clutter including excess furnishings.

• Use night-lights.

• Ask the doctor or pharmacist to review your loved one’s medications — both prescription and over-the-counter — -since drowsiness or dizziness can be side effects.

• In the kitchen: Keep frequently used dishes and pantry items within easy reach.

• In the bedroom: Ensure there’s a lamp within reach of the bed, and a clear path from bed to bathroom.

• In the bathroom: Have grab bars installed by the toilet and in the bathtub or shower area. Get a rubber mat for the tub/shower, a bath seat or shower chair, a hand-held shower head and a non-skid floor mat.

• In stairwells: Ensure steps are in good repair, have a non-skid surface, are clutter-free with sufficient lighting. Handrails are a must, and should reach past top and bottom steps.

Other safety strategies

• Kitchen: Remove the knobs from the stove and store them in a safe place. Put away small appliances--such as kettles and blenders — when not in use. Unplug appliances that are too big to store, such as the microwave oven. Lock up scissors, knives, corkscrews and any other dangerous implements. Buy plastic cups and break-resistant dishes.

• Bathroom: Store hair dryers and electric razors in another room, to minimize the risk of electric shock. Secure the medicine cabinet or store medications elsewhere in a locked box. Remove cleaning supplies or lock them up, too. Remove or disable the door lock to prevent your loved one from locking himself in.

• Install smoke alarms near bedrooms. Regularly check them and replace old batteries.

• Use childproofing safety devices, such as interior drawer locks and door knob covers. Don’t secure every drawer and cabinet, though; keep some accessible, containing only safe items (for example, cookbooks or linens).

• Put away valuables such as china and figurines, and other breakable items. The same goes for anything inedible that resembles food, and heavy items (like paperweights) that could do damage if dropped or thrown.

• Cover unused electrical outlets with safety plugs.

• Always supervise the use of electrical items.

• Never leave your loved one alone in a room where a wood fireplace or candles are burning.

• Lock up cigarettes, matches and lighters, and alcohol. Supervise smoking and drinking. Consult with the doctor about alcohol use, which may interact with medications or exacerbate behaviors.

• Administer medications, ensuring your loved one takes and swallows all pills provided.

• Install extra locks of varying kinds and at varying heights on exterior doors, to make it hard to get out; or get door alarms installed. If you have a swimming pool, buy a pool alarm.

• Keep a spare key hidden outside, in case your loved one locks you out of the house.

• Get a portable phone so you can supervise your loved one while taking and making calls.

• Turn down the temperature on your hot water heater, to avoid scalding accidents.

• Test the temperature of hot foods and beverages before serving; allow them to cool if necessary.

• Apply decorative window clings to patio and storm doors and picture windows, so your loved one doesn’t walk into them.

• Lock up dangerous substances and equipment, including firearms or other weapons, flammable and poisonous products, tools and machinery. Get rid of poisonous plants. Keep car keys hidden away.

• Ensure close supervision outdoors at all times.

• Register your loved one with Safe Return, a national, government-funded program of the Alzheimer’s Association that aids in the identification and safe, quick return of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias that wander off and become lost. For more information or to register, contact the local chapter or go online to www.alz.org/Services/SafeReturn.asp.

• Keep handy a list of emergency phone numbers, including the nationwide Poison Control Help Line at 1-800-222-1222.

• Consider a home assessment by an occupational therapist to assist you in identifying potential hazards and properly addressing them.

Lisa M. Petsche is a medical social worker and a freelance writer specializing in health and adult care issues.