Hi,
My mum was diagnosed with dementia about three years ago. She lives on her own in a small town (where lots of people know or at least recognise her) and has been in the habit of walking to the shops several times a day for the last year or so. Although she buys lots of useless stuff, I have not been overly concerned about it as it is only about a 10 minute walk, gives her a bit of exercise and I think it relieves her boredom.
However, this evening I have had a call to let me know that a neighbour has found her wandering along the main road out of town (from what they've told me, she would have been about a mile outside of town by the time they found her) I'm obviously concerned about this. She wears an identity bracelet, but she could have been knocked over by car (the road she was on has no pavements and no street lights)
I've called my local memory clinic crisis line, and they are coming to visit her tomorrow but was wondering what experience other people have of relatives wandering, and any suggestions as to what I can do?
Other than the wandering, she is very independent: she washes herself, dresses herself and prepares her own food (in a microwave.) I visit once a week and she has carers in every day to check she is ok but she generally refuses to let them do anything to help her!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
My mum was diagnosed with dementia about three years ago. She lives on her own in a small town (where lots of people know or at least recognise her) and has been in the habit of walking to the shops several times a day for the last year or so. Although she buys lots of useless stuff, I have not been overly concerned about it as it is only about a 10 minute walk, gives her a bit of exercise and I think it relieves her boredom.
However, this evening I have had a call to let me know that a neighbour has found her wandering along the main road out of town (from what they've told me, she would have been about a mile outside of town by the time they found her) I'm obviously concerned about this. She wears an identity bracelet, but she could have been knocked over by car (the road she was on has no pavements and no street lights)
I've called my local memory clinic crisis line, and they are coming to visit her tomorrow but was wondering what experience other people have of relatives wandering, and any suggestions as to what I can do?
Other than the wandering, she is very independent: she washes herself, dresses herself and prepares her own food (in a microwave.) I visit once a week and she has carers in every day to check she is ok but she generally refuses to let them do anything to help her!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.