My Dad left the house at 5 am thinking he had to be somewhere. Then rang the doorbell to get back in. We didn’t know he had left his bed, let alone the house.
Maybe putting the mattress on the floor in their bedroom makes sense. They won't fall out of bed. They won't be able to get up from down on the floor and start wandering around the house. The downside is, they won't be able to get out of bed to use the toilet, but if they're in Depends, it won't harm the floor or bedding. Or just give them something to make sure they don't wake in the night, like melatonin or a CBD gummy?
If your Dad is a wanderer, you need to put alarms on the doors that alert you when he is near the doors (he also would wear a bracelet or anklet). If he can learn how to use it, a medical alert device that also works outside might be helpful. It may be time to make the whole house safer by locking up the sharp knives and scissors. Also make sure he is carrying identification on him with his name and address. If it is too much for you to be caring for him 24/7, you might consider getting in-home care to watch over him for the nighttime hours. Medicare/medicaid might provide some in-home care benefits. Consult with a local social worker to discuss his options.
We got a door lock where you have to enter a code in order to open it. This means that in the case of emergency you can get out easily enough, but your Dad cannot get out. [We actually used it for an inside door because we didn't want my sister to wander near the steps. ] We used a very easy code: 1-2-3-4 that we gave to all of the caregivers. You can have the lock on the code going in and out, or only in one direction. Obviously, if it is an outside door, you would want it to work both ways. Hope this helps! We got it online...it was less than $100.
Hi, had a same similar situation. My dad sundowned & went out in the middle of the night, took off at random times. I got him the kervue watch-tracks everywhere in the world (fairly pricey) & put an alarm system on our house. It was a life changer. Good luck & sending prayers !
