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Dad leaves pans on the stove with burners on and forgets he was doing that resulting in quite a few close calls. What should I do?


We have had this issue in the last few months where Dad will heat up something at full flame on the stove then takes a nap or goes to the yard to work on his trees. End result is a burned pan and a very close call. My husband has already suggested to him that when he is using the stove to stay there until he is done and turn the stove off. He did it again on Monday while we were out of town. We were 40 minutes from home when I called to check on him and everything was fine. As we pulled up to the house we could see into the back yard and there he was crawling on his hands and knees. I entered the house and as I walked through the kitchen I noticed there was a pot on the stove with the flame on high and the contents bubbling and sputtering. He was still trying to get up when I got to him. When I told him about the stove he was not concerned he just asked if I turned it off. I could only picture the house burning down if we had taken longer to get home. It is to the point that we are scared to leave him alone for fear he might burn himself or burn the house down.


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One time could be a fluke. More than once and dad can't be left alone. Stove on full blast and he's down in the back yard? Think this over. If you had read this from someone else, what would you answer?
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Disconnecting the stove while you are gone (even for a short time) solves this particular issue.

Someone who cannot be trusted with the stove may have other issues that make him unsafe to be alone. I am very glad to see that he lives with you, not alone. Keep an eye out for other activities he cannot safely do on his own, such as take medications, or perhaps serve himself liquor.

It is wonderful that he he has observant and caring family looking out for him!
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I have flipped the breaker on my stove so my grandma cannot use the stove. She has turned it on & forgotten twice now to turn it off. Works great for us so far. She doesnt know how I've done it, but she understands why. Check to see if your stove has its own breaker, it probably does. Easier than unplugging the stove or purchasing child safety for it.
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Hi Jadiepie, My dad and I had this problem with my mom (she had Alz.) She burnt 3 or 4 microwaves up and several pans....even while sitting 3 feet away at the kitchen table! Fire alarm sounding and the room filling with smoke! We were in luck because the stove and microwave were on the same fuse, so we pulled the fuse out! We would put the fuse back in so I could cook and then remove it again. She would still put pans on the stove but it wouldn't work....interestingly enough she never realized that the stove and the microwave were not working. At this point you cannot allow him/her to use the stove or anything that can be a fire hazard. Blessings, Lindaz
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Immediately disable and disconnect the stove. Either that or soon you will have to identify a badly burned body. Give him a crock pot and a microwave, both with auto shut off.
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