My Dad has Alzheimer's and its early so he will go for walks but I'm afraid he will get lost one day. Any advice?

I agree about the ID tag. You can get a bracelet with his name, address, and your phone number on it. Make sure you get the kind with the complicated clasp so your dad can't take it off.

He may get lost one day on one of his walks. All you can do is prepare for that day and have a plan for him once he's unable to take his walks.

As I was reading your post I was thinking of the movie, "On Golden Pond" with Henry Fonda. I was remembering when Henry Fonda's character, at the beginning of his dementia, took a walk he'd taken a thousand times, and got lost. Good movie.

Definitely the ID tag and alert the local police department to his condition so they can return him to you. Share your dilemma with his doctor and ask when it will be time to get him into a Memory Care facility. If he was a wartime vet, the VA will help you.

All good suggestions, especially the ID tag and alerting the local PD.

Some of the most workable are hard to implement, as I've discovered.

If your father doesn't have a simple to use cell phone, get one for him. He doesn't need a Smartphone, just comething he can use. Consumer Cellular has very reasonable plans without any contract requirement. If you or your father are an AARP member, you can get a slight discount on the monthly cost.

I typed then printed labels which we attach to Dad's cell phone with (a) speed dial instructions and (b) my phone numbers and those of his church friends. If confusion sets in and the speed dial instructions become confusing, he still has real phone numbers to call.

Of course, he'll have to turn it on and that's often the stumbling block.

Perhaps you can find some way to share your enthusiasm for his walks so that he'll tell you when he goes and returns. Let him share the pleasure he gets from the walks and he'll be more likely to tell you about them. Go with him if you can.

That's the arrangement we have. Dad also generally goes in the evening or weekends when the neighbors are at home.

I have a med alert pendant for him which he now wears everywhere. As I wrote in another post, the GPS tracking for "wander management" isn't as advanced as some life alert companies represent it to be, but I still think a med alert pendant is a must for seniors whether they're susceptible to wandering or falling.

Losing household things is something we have and are still dealing with. When it happens, I tell Dad to wait until the next day when it's easier to find things and not such an urgent or unsettling issue. Sometimes a fresh look is all that's needed. If the items aren't found by the next time I come out I'll search for them. It's not an ideal solution though.

Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a few weeks before they turn up, which is why I always keep additional checks in case they're the missing items.

This isn't an easy situation to resolve but sympathy and understanding helps moderate the anxiety and the frustration of knowing that you can't find things.

I don't have any good answers to the collection of trash issues other than to try and spend time with him on the day the trash is set out so he's otherwise preoccupied. And if you can do, it take the items without his knowing it and put them out with your own trash.

I think this is a Depression Era throwback and that's not something that's going to change easily as survival was ingrained in those who experienced the Great Depression.

There is a shoe with a GPS chip so you can track his whereabouts, it was specially designed for long-term care dementia patients who are fond of wandering. Check the details in the link provided below:

http://www.infolongtermcare.org/iltc-news/gps-shoes-aid-memory-care/

In addition, it would be more comfortable and does not restrict their movements

He can't go on walks alone anymore. Chips and the police sound like good ideas, but that is a waste of their time. He might cross the street and get hit by a car. No one said it was easy.

Check with your local sheriff's department. Where I live they have a program that provides a monitoring device. They are not bothered by having to assist families in this way....it's their project and they are trained on how to help.

I guess another option would be to put a label inside his clothing (on shirt collar) or inside pants back where the normal label is. Of course not everyone would think to look there. yes dealing with father constantly moving things, wondering who did, my mom tells him he did and he disagrees, she gets upset and the cycle repeats itself.

If Dad balks at wearing an ID tag/bracelet, you can buy them in "dog tag" style to wear around the neck; he may be more willing to wear something that looks like army-issue dog tags!

The local Sheriff's department here provides a device that goes around the ankle, and cannot be removed. It contains a GPS tracking chip. The problem with the shoes is that he may decide to wear a different pair or none at all. My understanding is that there is no charge for the GPS service from the Sheriff's department. And it is County Sheriff, not local PD that do this.

I have a GPS device for my dog. It clips on his collar and tells me as soon as he gets out of a zone. It sends me texts and emails. Not sure if they make these devices for people. It only cost $6.99 a month. There is the problem of his knowing when it is safe to cross the street or his picking up items that people may still want. Also his safety in general as if he encounters the wrong sort of people he could be victimized easily. I had to stop my Mom from walking alone when she began to fall.

Our county has what is called Project Lifesaver. I believe it's a free program administered through the county. You can contact your local police department. I was a volunteer at the PD in Community Affairs and while we administered the program, before the county took it over, we saved many people. It's worth checking into.

A little tidbit on Albert Eisenstein who was absent minded: Someone once called the dean's office for directions. "How do I get to Albert Einstein's home?" the caller asked. When the man at the dean's office said he couldn't give out those directions, there was a pause on the other end. Then, a sigh, and a response: "This is Albert Einstein. I got lost walking home from the campus."

I also heard this was common from a friend who use to live down the street from Mr. Einstein. The police were always giving him a ride home.

As for bringing home items on trash day... I use to do that as a kid... I always thought why is someone throwing out this, it is still useful. I found it fun, like a treasure hunt. I personally wouldn't stop your Dad from doing this, he's getting good exercise and keeps his brain busy.... store the items for him unless you think this will develop into a hoarding situation.

excellent suggestions..may I add some more.Add some alarms for the doors,you can get them at the hardware store or dollar stores.Loud enough any neighbors would hear and come running.Also the GPS system is excellent, I also heard (check this out if it is for real) a hat that has a GPS system in the band.The ankle bracelet cannot be removed but depending on the system may need recharging once in a while.Absolutely give his description and picture etc to the local PD. Let the local businesses aware so if he wanders in and looks confused they can help him faster.I know personally a family that bought a multitude of Clappers to put on items so they could find them after their Mom lost them,misplaced them..good luck

What a coincidence, the wandering. My mom wandered out the door yesterday afternoon for the first time; she's been living with me for about a year now (I was working as per usual back in my bedroom and didn't hear her open the door with the 3 locks on it, which was remarkable, and I do check on her often as she's usually watching TV out front, and I break for dinner). Long story short, a policeman pulled up in his car with her in the front seat. A man in the neighborhood saw her in her slippers and and apparently also alerted the police. I'm checking into the city program, not sure about an ID bracelet and waiting for the neurologist office to call me back about a med change. After checking the price of this GPS shoe (if I read one ad correctly, could be talking $399 plus?, and she'd never keep that shoe on or a bracelet, for that matter), I'm more apt to go with a half tab of mirtazapine late this afternoon should I not hear from the doc. Will be checking into door or mat alarms, I guess.

In addition to the suggestions above, there is a type of GPS shoe that you can get and which indeed does work. The challenge is that you need to charge them every day. But they are regular shoes with velcro straps (Aetrex Navistar). There a slight bulge at the back of one shoe which is where you charge the GPS unit built into the shoe. My problem has been my mother is stuck on wearing the same pair of shoes from a long time ago, and it has been some degree of familiarity for her, so we haven't been able to get her to change shoes yet. I expect I will use eventually to get her to use the GPS shoes this summer as the weather gets better. There is also company (GTX Corp) making a GPS insole device to go into existing shoes. I had hoped that would be here by now, but it isn't. GTX provides the GPS for both the shoes and the insoles. I also have a GPS tracker for her purse, but that has annoyed her more than anything.

I got a cell phone for my mom years ago and track her via her phone - gps. Plus her phone has only the important phone numbers so if anything happens a person can use her phone to call us and she does not have to remember the numbers. Turned out our family loves the feature and we all have it turned on and we can see where each is without constant calling/texting to ask where are you? (was great when my son was a teenager too)

My husband's doctor suggested a medical ID. Since he never was one for jewelry, I chose the key chain option. I just put his name, memory, his meds for it and my cellphone. Recently he got lost because of all the tourists where he walks confusing him. Two ladies looked at his wallet which has nothing of value in it (I took care of that months ago). They called me and I went over and got him. They told me to go with him but they have no idea -- I have allergies. My allergy to grass and ragweed is off the charts. I was surprised your dad is afraid of getting lost because my husband pooh poohs that and usually is in denial about his illness. He often walks to the church nearby and brings home things that they give away free. Gosh it reminds me of a golden retriever at the shore who retrieved things out of other people's yards. The owners had a box on their porch and you could go look and see if the dog took anything of yours. He took a beach towel right off of the clothesline one day...

I recently renewed Onstar for my car and my husband's truck, for he still drives locally. If I suspect he is lost, I can go to my car and call Onstar and they will tell me where he is, as well as they can talk to him and help him return home.

So far he hasn't lost his way.....but I am not sure if this is workable or not..marymember

I purchased a monitor GPS (if you will) for my daughter and had her bling it to look fashionable. (That's my mom) and also if he is willing get him a bracelet with dementia. Those pocket cards with his (ICE) in case of emergency should be on his person stating his illness, also if carrying a phone same thing ICE with best number to contact. Medical and police personnel will normally check ICE contacts. Also a whistle that is quite noisy is good so people can hear signs of distress. Wear it on a languard or something. Until they admit they are becoming lost, it's the most preventative measures I can think of. Ok one more that may not be acceptable Neon jacket!! Always keep a picture of a recent pic of your parent, not when they were 30 years younger. They will be at least broadcasted on the news. Hope this helps a tad. Good luck!!

Lol I meant I purchased it for my mom and my daughter had to make it look special!!

First, go with him on his walks if you can. Say you want some exercise too. If that is not possible, put labels in his clothing identifying him, and a bracelet, necklace I.D. are only as good IF he wears them. Have a recent photo of him just in case he does get lost. If he is still coming home that is a good sign even though he brings things with him. He's probably in that long-term memory during the Great Depression when he had to look for items for his family of origin. Short of putting locks on the doors he does need to walk (since he still can) so someone can watch him driving behind him or walking with him. My husband got lost when we first moved to our new house, but after months of seeing the route in the car, he now can walk to and from church by himself. If your dad has been in his home for years he has stored the route in long-term memory. I know you get worried, but you cannot police him 24/7 unless he is in a memory care unit. Best wishes!

Thought of something else. With the peripheral vision that some experience with dementia. I did not realize that a black rug in front of a door can appear to be a hole not a rug. I didn't realize it until my mother would not go near the door. Once we realized it they used it in front of the elevators. Kept residents from slipping in with family and going off the floor to wander offl

I saw something in the latest AARP magazine which features an affordable medical alert service. It is called the 5Star and is powered by wireless network. It looks like a cell phone and works at home, out for a walk, shopping, driving...It has GPS technology. It costs $14.pp a month. No contracts, no cancellation fees, no equipment to install.
It is offered by greatcall...
I think I might get one for my husband as he does still drive. (he was born in the town where we live, so the long term memory is okay..for now).
I also picked up, from any pharmacy, an order sheet for an expandable wallet card that could be carried along with usual wallet..inside details can be placed for identification, etc.
I like the 5STAR idea...like knowing all that other equipment isn't installed.
If anyone is using this alert service, I would like to know...marymember

Safetylinkbylojack, is an electronic tracking program that once alerted, can bring your loved one home in a matter of minutes. Wearing a wrist watch-like device greatly reduces the risks of such a situation. Check with your local Council in Aging if funding is needed for the monthly service.
File a Disability Indicator Form with your local Police Dept. so they are aware that your family member has this special need. These simple steps will greatly reduce fear and the impact of any individual who gets lost.

GPS! Just had to get my Dad this morning, although he wasn't lost and on his way home. A few weeks ago he got on a bus and was trying to get to Manhattan! The one we use is actually for dogs - a bit cheaper than the people ones. We've had it about 6 weeks and is helping.

This is another thing I need to do for my husband. I am afraid he will get lost also. Thanks for the info!

Hello again-about the Safetylink: once it is put on the wrist, it cannot be removed. For individuals who have sensory concerns, it is possible to put a tracker on a shoe...but no guarantee that will be on the person's foot when going for a walk. Good news,the wristlet is waterproof (take it to the shower, too); the battery gets changed every 6 months. One call to the local police and the tracking begins.

Since the one we have is for a dog, we had to get him used to carrying it in his pocket. (it's made to slip on a leash). It has become part of his daily 'uniform' - wallet, keys, glasses and his 'ISpy'. Once he leaves the designated area we have set, I will get an alarm on my phone. That can take up to 12 minutes (the satellite cycle - all of these GPS systems have one of various time periods), but at anytime, I can tap a locate button and it will tell me where he is. I can either tap it at will, or set it on tracking for 30 minutes where it will beep me his location every 3 minutes. That's how we realized that he was on a bus that day. That feature can be reactivated after the 30 minutes. We also got an ID bracelet with contact info - we have to convince him to wear that now.

Lorey9, could you give me more information about the GPS tracker you have for your dog? I like the features as you've described them and would like to know more about the monitor. Who makes it, what's the name of the device, how much did it cost, where did you get it?

Thanks a lot!

TAGG. I think the device was around $129 and I think we pay about 9-10 per month (sorry, I forgot - hasn't shown up on my CC yet.) We use it for Dad, not the dog!