Toronto, Ont. – January 12, 2016 – When
a senior living with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia wanders,
it causes immediate panic and anxiety for family caregivers. If not
found within 24 hours, up to half of seniors who wander are at risk for
harm. Unfortunately, wandering happens all too often. In fact, nearly 50
percent of families caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's have
experienced a loved one wandering[i],
according to a survey conducted for Home Instead, Inc. To help family
caregivers keep their aging loved ones safe, Home Instead Senior Care
has launched a free, nationwide alert system, Missing Senior NetworkSM, available at www.MissingSeniorNetwork.ca.
"We
understand the stress experienced by family caregivers who lose sleep
over the worry that their loved one living with Alzheimer's disease or
another dementia may leave unannounced," explains Jeff Huber, CEO of
Home Instead Senior Care. "We wanted to provide families with a resource
that empowers them to take action when and if wandering occurs, giving
them the ability to quickly alert their own personal network."
Family
caregivers who sign up for the Missing Senior Network may alert a
network of family, friends and businesses in the event their loved one
goes missing. The mobile-ready platform alerts the network of a missing
senior via text or email, and families can also choose to post an alert
to the Home Instead Remember for Alzheimer's Facebook page,
connected to more than 270,000 followers. All families coping with
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are eligible to sign up for
the free, online program.
The Missing Senior Network is part of Home Instead Senior Care network's nationwide Prevent Wandering
program. The program includes resources such as insight into what may
trigger wandering events, steps families can take to keep aging adults
safe and tips on what to do if a senior wanders.
"Seniors
with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia often wander with a
purpose, whether it is to return to a former job or even visit family or
friends" said Dr. Paulina Gasiorowska, an emergency room physician at
Humber River Hospital. "Wandering can put seniors at risk for injury so
it's important for family members to be aware of these risks in order to
take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their loved
ones."
Family
caregivers should be aware of the following common triggers that may
cause someone with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia to wander:
- Delusions or hallucinations.
Those living with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia may
misinterpret sights or sounds, causing them to feel fearful and wander
to escape their environment.
- Overstimulation.
Individuals living with dementia can become easily upset in noisy or
crowded environments, triggering them to look for an escape from the
chaos.
- Fatigue, especially during late afternoons and evenings. Individuals living with dementia may become tired, causing restless pacing and, eventually, wandering.
- Disorientation to place and time. Individuals may not recognize they are home and seek to return to a familiar place, such as a former workplace.
- Change in routine.
Individuals living with dementia may become confused following a change
of routine, wandering in an effort to return to a familiar place.
For additional tips and program resources about Alzheimer's and wandering, visit www.PreventWandering.ca
or contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office to learn how
family caregivers can help prevent or respond to wandering. Find the
office near you by visiting www.homeinstead.ca. To access the Missing Senior Network, visit www.MissingSeniorNetwork.ca.
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ABOUT
HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE
Founded
in 1994, the Home Instead Senior Care® network provides personalized care,
support and education to help enhance the lives of aging adults and their
families. Today, this network is the world's leading provider of in-home care
services for seniors, with more than 1,000 independently owned and operated
franchises that are estimated to annually provide more than 50 million hours of
care throughout Canada and 12 other countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care
offices employ approximately 65,000 CAREGiversSM worldwide who
provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and
comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. The Home Instead Senior
Care network strives to partner with each client and his or her family members
to help meet that individual’s needs. Services span the care continuum from
providing companionship and personal care to specialized Alzheimer’s care and
hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support
resources. At Home Instead Senior Care, it’s relationship before task, while
striving to provide superior quality service.
[i] During
March-April 2016, Home Instead, Inc., surveyed 1,110 family caregivers
across North America through an online survey. Of the respondents, 86
percent were in the United States, while 11 percent were in Canada.