Hello Memori,
Thought I'd drop in on this one, somehow or other I've not seen this thread or would have spoken with you earlier.
As Nell has said, we're experiencing the wandering bit at the moment, and it's definitely hard to deal with, exceptionally worrying.
My Gran lives 25 miles away from us, and none of the family are in a position to live with her full time or be there for most of a day or a night. We get to her twice a week normally, more if we can, and we have carers now going in 3 times a day.
We recently had an alarm installed, whereby if Gran goes out and does not return through the front door within 2 minutes, an alarm is activated at the central base and a warden is sent out. Sadly on sunday gone, the alarm failed to go off and Gran got quite far for who knows how long before she was discovered and ultimately returned home. Two days later she went again, but the system worked this time, although it took some time to find her.
We are more than a little anxious over this, naturally concerned that Gran could come to serious harm while she wanders. On sunday mam's only option was to remove all available keys to the house so that she couldn't get out and mam was able to return home. Obviously this wasn't a safe practice, not a decision that was taken lightly, and can't keep being repeated.
The struggle we've had with SS is nobody's business, and now, thankfully, we seem to have some more wheels turning. Gran was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and low BP in the standing position, which puts her at even greater risk when she wanders.
I don't have any immediate solutions to the problem, but I can only say stick with it. If the wandering persists, keep on at SS for help with her, as we are now. My sister and I are ringing SS every day at the moment, hounding them to get something done.
Just something to chuckle about before I go....
Gran went for a walk with mam today, to a local dentist to collect her palate which has had a new tooth fixed on. She was enjoying the walk, but was flagging on the way home. She got through the front door and her legs gave out and she banged everything there is to bang on the way down. Can someone enlighten me as to how the heck she's so frail on an accompanied walk, yet when she wanders she can go for miles without a hitch?!?!?!?! Wierd one!