Husband wanders while I try to nap. Can I install double-sided lock on my front door, and lock from inside?

We put barrel/slide locks on the very top of every door. My mom is 93 and can still manage the regular locks on the doors, but can't reach high enough to undo the slide locks. On the main door (we use the garage for our main entrance), I installed a deadbolt, but turned it around so that the keyed side is on the inside and the knob is on the outside, making for easy access for EMS if I have to call them. The key is kept on a key hook near the door, and she has never made the connection of that key being used for that lock. In addition, we got an alarm mat (Amazon, $125) that has a portable alarm receiver, so I can carry it with me or set it on my nightstand when I go to bed. The mat is placed next to her bed and when she gets up and steps on the mat, the alarm goes off. I'm not a fan of GPS, tracking, etc., because once she gets out of the house, there are so many ways for her to be harmed, so I do my best to keep her in the house at all times. Good luck and hang in there...

The concern I have is easy exit from your home in case of a fire. Yes, I have lived places with key locks for both sides of the door, but they weren't on every door in the home. You could do this for the front door, but you need a few doors without this type of lock.

Since your husband keeps you up at night, please talk to his doctor about medications to help him stay asleep at night. This might be the better solution.

Yes, you can have a double-cylinder deadbolt out on your doors. I had a client who had to do this for his wife who had dementia and used to wander.
If a locksmith gives you a hard time about it, then hire a handyman to do it.
Or you could install the type of latch that's locked with a combination lock. I put one of these on a door myself. Very easy to do. They come in a kit and you'll need an electric screwdriver to install it. Takes about five minutes to do.
If you have a home security system, activate it before you go for a nap. If the outside doors or windows are opened, an alarm sounds.

I have the same issue of wandering with my husband. I wouldn't advise installing keyed deadbolts that you need a key to open - dangerous in case of fire. Instead, I installed door alarms on the bedroom door and all the exit doors - very inexpensive; found them on Amazon. In case I slept through the alarm (although you can make the volume higher or lower as you wish), I also put those childproof door knob things on the doors (wraps around the knob)- he hasn't yet figured out how to press the right spots and open the door. So far so good.

Confounding lock

try www. Alzstore.com
lots of resources there.

Yes, confounding locks work great!
I have on on the front door and the door to the basement.
The back yard is fenced so I let my Mom walk out there...and I have locks on the gates so she cannot get out.

The childproof plastic doorknob covers worked great for my husband that had dementia. I even put them on bedroom doors inside the house so he wouldn’t go in rooms and hurt himself while I was busy cleaning or cooking and didn’t have my eyes on him 100 percent. Also, they make plastic electric stovetop covers that fit over the stovetop controls. Those came in handy because he would sometimes turn all the controls on when I was busy .
my thoughts and prayers go out to you. It is an extremely difficult and heartbreaking job caring for your loved one with dementia.

I'm only caregiver for my 96-year-old Mother with dementia also had issues with her going out the front door in the middle of the night while I slept. Get a double key deadbolt and put it on the front and back doors it worked perfectly. They are not difficult to put on only takes a few minutes. May God's Blessings surround you and give you the strength and wisdom you need.

you could have a chime go off every time the door opens. I have a chime and a very squeaky security door that I refuse to oil.

I also use a child proof safety latch on the door knob, and have a child safety gate that swings open on my walk way. Its basically another layer of protection that he would have to open. Door chime(could be a bell), child proof safety knob, squeaky door, and a child safety gate.(amazon for the knob) target for the gate

I put our stepladder in front of the door. Now my husband cannot see the knob or latch and doesn't know the door is there.

I didn’t read all the answers so this may be a repeat. Changing to have the door locked only by key from the inside is illegal in most areas for a good reason. If you should pass out or away and the house catches fire you have just condemned him to be burned alive. I have had the same problem that you have with my wife. I installed cheap battery operated burglar alarms (from Amazon) on the doors to wake me when she is roaming. It usually scares the heck out of her and she doesn’t go out. Anyway it wakes me so I can take care of the situation.

If you can afford it get a Security System. We use VIVINT & it works great. 👍

Many great ideas. Hope you can find a successful solution. I wanted to add that i had a med alert necklace that DH would wear. EMS had to come one time-- they never looked at it. Fortunately, situation was such that I was there to give info. Now ,I have a card in his wallet with a tab that sticks out above his ID (no license anymore). ICE written on tab. He always wants his wallet with him. Card states situation and number(s) to call. I have one in my wallet, same format, explaining his situation also, in case I am impaired and he is with me. "...Has dementia, never leave alone... number(s) to call".
Praying for you. Your husband is blessed to have you.

I don't know the locking answers or what else to do but I am wondering why this man is at home living with you and impacting your life so much? Why don't you place him? It would be safer for him and better for you. Please consider it.

Good Idea and Yes, the Locksmith will do that for you.

Whatever solution you find just don’t forget your need to evacuate yourself in the event of an emergency.

Maybe you can get an ID bracelet on him with your emergency contact info or maybe your can hire a few hours a day helper so you can get some rest.

You should be able to do that and there are also alarms you can get. When I took car of my dad I had a camera on him so I could go outside for short periods but still be able to see what he was doing.

I have heard that putting a dark mat in front of the door can act as a deterrent, they see it as a hole and will be stopped. I once painted my bathroom floor black to hide an ugly linoleum. The cat refused to come in there!

We got a lock installed that requires you to push in a code (4 digits) to open the door. It can work on both sides of the door or you can disable it on one side. We used it on an interior door to keep my sister from wandering all over the house - the house was not totally "kid" proofed. Hope this helps!

Memory 12345, you’ve been given great advice, some of which I trust will be helpful to you. As poster Frances73 said, a black hole rug at front door may help. Alternatively I find the Vortex Optical Illusion rugs to look amazingly realistic and confusing; they just might cause your husband to avoid the “hole” in ground at front door. Here is a small and inexpensive one ($13.98 with free shipping on Amazon) via link  https://tinyurl.com/fn6k4ev8 

As a quick short term solution until you install different front door locks or add other devices to keep your husband from wandering out of the house when your back is turned, here is a brilliant round-doorknob-locking-device. This would be helpful on any round doorknobs which don’t even have to themselves lock (like your bedroom door). Again, this product is for purchase on Amazon and requires no installation, just snap it on and lock & unlock it with the provided key, here is the link  https://www.amazon.com/PRIME-LINE-S-4180-Door-Knob-Lock-Out-Device-–-Prevents-Turning-of-Door-Knob-and-Access-to-Keyhole/dp/B00BOZBDK6/ref=cm_wl_huc_item

The product name is Prime-Line S 4180 Door Knob Lock-Out Device  

Best wishes to you and your husband.

Memory12345: Imho, it is IMPERATIVE that you get restorative sleep albeit if you have to install locks, else you'll be good to no one including being a caregiver to your husband.

I bought a chain lock which is easy to install with just couples nail. Twisted the chain couple times to make it shorter. Then, lock it with a small padlock.

We installed a dead bolt with key access on our front door and a keyed doorknob at the top (like a doorknob which is usually for a bathroom/bedroom ) on the door to the stairs which connects our main floor to our walk-out basement. It can be unlocked from the downstairs side but not from the top. Any reputable locksmith should have no problem installing something similar/particularly if you explain the situation.

I don't know about that. I think a two-sided deadbolt lock might be illegal especially if you have to use a key from the inside to get out because of fire hazardness. My husband has dementia also and he slips out during the night sometimes half naked and I put an alarm on my bedroom door that goes off when he opens it. I know how hard it is to be the caregiver but we do it out of love. I have some stories that I could tell but I am sure you have the same. Just having someone to talk too make all the difference. I do hope and pray that you find a solution to keep him inside when you are sleeping. I have sleepless nights because my husband wanders at night and he gets lost in the house and can't find the bathroom. Good luck, hope to talk to you again...
Kaspma1952

Yes you can do that people do it all the time to keep people with Alzheimer's and dementia in the house so they don't go out side and wonder off and get lost . I haven't been though that with my mom she used to lock the door and lock my brother out of the house I would tell her that he was out side she would say that he should be in the house by now it's dark outside. My brother is 65. My daughter's freind had to put one in to keep her grandma in the house. Your not being mean to him by putting one in your keeping him safe just make sure you keep it locked so he doesn't get out by himself . I saw that someone else said something about they think you can't do it because if theirs a fire they can't get in the house. You can get a key lock box and put it on the outside of your door and put a copy of the key in it and give someone the past code so they can get the key in a emergency. You might be able to give the fire department and other emergency people the code so they can get the key.

We had to purchase dad a transport chair after he got released from the behavior unit. The regular wheelchair he got when he 1st got released from the hospital had to be returned (medical supplier cited that it was showing he already had one). None of our stores had replacement chairs that we could purchase on the spot.

Needless to say, the transport chair has slowed him up big time from trying to get out the exits due to tiny wheels. But yes, he has figured out the brakes already.

Wow. That’s a hard one. Even if u get a tracking device he still is roaming. Same if u get dead bolt. That’s scary . God forbid if it’s a fire. What would happen if u take a nap when he does. Maybe u can lock him in the same room ur in. Make sure ur in a room with a bathroom. Put a small refrig. In the room lock the windows have a fan on or AC. Hopefully, he doesn’t feel trapped or hopefully nor become violent . This is a hard one. Once u wake up eat take him for a walk. Double check his meds could be an issue. If he doesn’t want the bracelet how about the necklace. Maybe u could say to him. Whomever he was close to say for eg. ur mom told me to give u this bracelet to wants u to where it to be safe.

Do the have door knob handles that can give a slight jolt nothing dangerous enough heat or spark light a child so they will not touch the handle

I’m reading what others are saying. I see the locks only work for certain ppl and certain situations. I guess it all depends on that person characteristics.