Mailbox Response

The question was submitted 25/09/2007

Subject: wanderer alarms

Hello, mmy mother has dementia. she was diagnosed nearly 4 years ago when I was living overseas. I returned home as soon as I found out how bad things where and now care for both parents fulltime.

My parents still share a bedroom, seperate beds, and their room is at the front of the house. This morning I was woken by the telephone, at 6am to tell me that mum was wandering the street, something she has never done before. When I caught up with her, she didn't know who I was or where she was, and when I got her back home she didn't recognise the house she has lived in for 49 years.

Within ten minutes all was back to our type of normal.

So I have 2 questions for you. I know that there are wanderer alarms available for use in institutions, but is there a product for use with dementia sufferes cared for in their own homes, and if so can you please direct me to more information on these. I really don't want to put more locks in place in case of fires, and my dad is a heavy smoker.

Also, I desperately want to know what form of dementia mum has. We live in a rural community with limited medical facilities. As I mentioned mum was diagnosed years ago, and everyone that I have spoken to seems to imply, she has dementia, so what difference is knowing what type of dementia she has going to make.

I know that there are some medications available for certain types of dementia, and mum has varying degrees of memory impairment, so I feel as if all is not lost, so to speak.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Answer from DementiaNet

There are alarms that can be used. The best action to take is to call the Alzheimer’s Australia on 1800 100 500. Someone there will direct you to where you acquire the available devices. Mum probably has Alzheimer’s disease. In this case she should have a trial of a medication called a cholinesterase inhibitor. These drugs do not cure the disease but help to stabilise it. She may have already been on one of these drugs. The other option is to consider participation in a clinical trial. These are only available at some hospitals in the major cities and the Alzheimer’s Association can also tell you about this. Perhaps her GP will be able to tell you this. It would also be helpful to know if she has seen a specialist in the past and whether a brain scan has been done. Perhaps it would be worthwhile taking Mum to see a specialist even if she has done so before.

The answer was published on DementiaNet 28/09/2007