If you google "key finder" you will see lots of solutions, many in connection with smartphones but here's an inexpensive one from IWOOT where you just whistle for it:
Here's a slightly more technical one from the AS winter
Personally I would probably go for the cheaper one to see how it works out.
Oh dear, what a nuisance for your mum! I'm afraid the simple fact is that dad will not remember to hang up the key as requested. This is not him being deliberately difficult, it is a symptom of the illness he has. The only way round this is to come up with a system where a) the keys don't get lost and/or b) it doesn't matter if they do.
Of course, your mum is also elderly and probably has fixed ideas (she might even have a degree of cognitive impairment herself, who knows?) so you, Mitch, will probably have to be the one who comes up with a solution that works for both of them.
My only concern with hanging a key over the bannister, is if it's within sight of the letterbox.It goes over the end of the bannister at night and I put it back on her first thing.
I have tried so many times to tell mum that he isn't doing it on purpose but she gets so stressed with it that she just can't help it but shout at him when he has lost yet another key, it's so frustrating, and I feel so sorry for dad
This is a great idea - not least because it comes from someone who really KNOWS!!! Thanks John I shall be passing this one onwards xxHi Mich
I saw your message on the Alzheimers society newsletter.
I have vascular dementia and like your dad I keep losing amongst other things, my keys. Having them drop out of my pocket at the supermarket was a favourite, until my wife came up with a solution.
I have a small carabiner, like mountain climbers use attached to my belt loop. On it i have a chain long enough to reach from my pocket to the lock, and on the end of that I have my keys. I haven't lost a single one since we did this. My wife says it was about a year ago.
I tried carabiners from a shoe repair shop but they weren't strong enough. I got one from an outdoor shop instead which works fine. The chain came from the DIY part of a high street stores.
I hope this helps.
John
Hello I am new to TP and would really like your help on how to help my mum cope. My dad keeps losing his keys. He has now lost 4 for the kitchen door and 3 for the patio door. My mum is at her wits end and has looked everywhere but with no luck. She is not the most patient person, and really gives my dad a hard time. I work as a carer and have had clients with varying stages of this disease so maybe it is a little easier for me to get my head around things. Also I don't have to live with him so again I am sure it is really hard for my mum, she sometimes thinks he is doing things on purpose, when he puts things back in the wrong place or forgets his drink is in the microwave and has been heated up 5 times and still forgotten! Going back to what I said earlier if anyone has any ideas as to what we can do to help dad with his "key losing problem" I would be very grateful.
Hello I am new to TP and would really like your help on how to help my mum cope. My dad keeps losing his keys. He has now lost 4 for the kitchen door and 3 for the patio door. My mum is at her wits end and has looked everywhere but with no luck. She is not the most patient person, and really gives my dad a hard time. I work as a carer and have had clients with varying stages of this disease so maybe it is a little easier for me to get my head around things. Also I don't have to live with him so again I am sure it is really hard for my mum, she sometimes thinks he is doing things on purpose, when he puts things back in the wrong place or forgets his drink is in the microwave and has been heated up 5 times and still forgotten! Going back to what I said earlier if anyone has any ideas as to what we can do to help dad with his "key losing problem" I would be very grateful.
She is really in the state of mind that he should be able to remember to hang the key up when he comes back. She gives him such a hard time when he forgets to do it and then it gets lost.
I have tried so many times to tell mum that he isn't doing it on purpose but she gets so stressed with it that she just can't help it but shout at him when he has lost yet another key, it's so frustrating, and I feel so sorry for dad
Mum just will not do this. She is really in the state of mind that he should be able to remember to hang the key up when he comes back. She gives him such a hard time when he forgets to do it and then it gets lost.