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"I
get so worried leaving her on her own alone….."
It is understandable that many carers, worried about
the safety of their relative with dementia, stay at
home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This can lead
to enormous stress and pressure on carers- creating
feelings of anger, resentment and isolation.
In
the long run, the effects of these negative feelings
on the person with dementia may result in greater
confusion and disturbing behaviour. It is vital therefore
that all carers get a break on a regular basis - this
is important for both the carer and the person with
dementia.
So
how safe is it to leave a person with dementia at
home alone? Surprisingly, it can be quite safe, even
where the person has moderately advanced dementia.
With a few simple precautions, the risks to the physical
safety of the person (and property) can be minimised.
A
few points to consider:
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Accidents
happen: a risk free life is a myth. A major
complication is that many people suffering from
dementia are elderly and therefore at greater
risk of accidents occurring at home. This is
partly because our sense of balance and speed
of reaction tends to deteriorate with age.
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Other
forms of physical disability also become more
common as we age, limiting our participation
in some activities. In addition, an elderly
person with dementia may be less aware of his
or her limitations.
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It
is essential to know what the person with dementia
can still do and let them do it, even if there
are some risks involved. Appropriate supervision
is the key. By doing everything for the person,
they quickly become more disabled, and more
disruptive in behaviour.
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Remember
that dementia is a progressive disease. The
person's abilities will continue to deteriorate
despite the safety measures put into place in
the home. However the safety measures discussed
below will enable the person with dementia to
live more safely at home for longer periods
than commonly thought.
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Install
an earthing switch to prevent fires from electrical
shorts/wiring faults.
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