I have read on AS material that PWD should never be locked in but I am not sure how else to deal with Mum’s nocturnal habits. She doesn’t wander as her mobility isn’t good but she has the classic characteristic of not understanding time and gets up in the middle of the night, dresses (after a fashion) and makes herself cups of tea. Alas because she has macular degeneration, she won’t put lights on as they hurt her eyes.
Last night the front door alarm went off ( the pager that I keep here next door) at 1.05 am. When I got round there the door was unlocked and sure enough there she was trying to make a cup of tea in the dark. I asked her gently why she had opened the door and she replied that there were two men out there and she wanted to see what they were doing. Actually it was probably only one man, her neighbour on the other side who gets back from night shift around 1am. But what if there actually were men on the prowl? Or even a burglar trying doors on the off chance?
This is the second night in a row this has happened and I am almost delirious from lack of sleep because once woken up by her, sleep is impossible, I am on tenterhooks all night waiting for the next alarm. I need a solution. My brother has tried sleeping in her spare room one night but she kept going in and waking him up to find out who he was in a distressed state so that’s not the answer.
Could I lock the front door and leave her to roam freely around her own house? I understand there are dangers to this approach but I can’t care for her properly during the day when I am little more than a zombie.
I fear she isn’t going to be able to stay there much longer. I certainly won’t be able to cater for her needs and keep her safe as she deteriorates.
Last night the front door alarm went off ( the pager that I keep here next door) at 1.05 am. When I got round there the door was unlocked and sure enough there she was trying to make a cup of tea in the dark. I asked her gently why she had opened the door and she replied that there were two men out there and she wanted to see what they were doing. Actually it was probably only one man, her neighbour on the other side who gets back from night shift around 1am. But what if there actually were men on the prowl? Or even a burglar trying doors on the off chance?
This is the second night in a row this has happened and I am almost delirious from lack of sleep because once woken up by her, sleep is impossible, I am on tenterhooks all night waiting for the next alarm. I need a solution. My brother has tried sleeping in her spare room one night but she kept going in and waking him up to find out who he was in a distressed state so that’s not the answer.
Could I lock the front door and leave her to roam freely around her own house? I understand there are dangers to this approach but I can’t care for her properly during the day when I am little more than a zombie.
I fear she isn’t going to be able to stay there much longer. I certainly won’t be able to cater for her needs and keep her safe as she deteriorates.