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We thought about a safety knob cover for her door knob but are worried she will panic if she can’t open her door, we thought about a baby gate but are concerned she might try to climb over it and fall. Other than keeping guard outside her door we are at a loss. Any and all suggestions will help.........thank you

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I hung bamboo wind chimes on the doorknob--it worked.
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Nobody gets past my and pup's door without her woofing! So we know if mom is up...basically she can't get into any trouble: we are now making sure to deadbolt the two doors downstairs, one to the front door direct to outside, and the other is house to attached garage. Key is hidden near the door...we used to leave the key in, but she takes them/hides them. If she goes out the back the yard is fenced with a combination lock on it...and again we'd know. Don't know how everyone functions during the day when awoken during the night!....
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I used the door alarms and ordered the pager that I wore around the house as well. The pager is not small as the old pager we used to wear but it sure helped me relax.
Later I discovered the flip locks and was able to relax even more. I could even take a peaceful shower.
An alarm on the bedroom door would be nice.
And if you have the money, would be to install an electric lock on the door connected thru the smoke alarms. If an alarm went off the door would unlock automatically.
Other options are out there as well.
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I placed a small G.E. door alarm on our door so that it emits a loud noise if my husband leaves the bedroom and wanders at night.

I have the same alarms on front and back doors and windows.
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Thank you everyone for your advice and suggestions ~ I appreciate you all and this site for extending help through this difficult time ~ stay blessed ❤️
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I got some of those little self adhesive door alarms for mothers bedroom and the garage doors. They are cheap but they are loud and will wake you out of a deep sleep.
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We turned doorknobs around because Auntie kept sneaking out then we would find her on the floor so it was for her safety....we also got baby monitor ,and alarms for the doors so if it opened up a LOUD SIREN WOULD GO ON...
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HOw about a baby monitor? Or a door alarm should she open it?
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Set up motion detectors throughout house. You can go to Amazon. I also had a seeing eye 👁 rigged to small tv 📺 while next to another tv watching tv with private nurse on mute. A police 👮‍♀️ at house once said, put a GPS ankle bracelet if he wanders off. Problem with ankle bracelet if they cut it off. If your 24/7 caregiver and not much sleep. Motion detection sets off where movement where you place them. They’re loud.
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A night nurse is needed.
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It may be time to hire night care, if possible. This wandering may escalate to incontinence in living areas and other things like that. You may also want to counsel for sleep medication or some sort of anti-anxiety med.
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Malyywa Jun 2019
Thank you for responding
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Never tried this but read that attaching some sort of red STOP sign to the door is helpful.
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Malyywa Jun 2019
Very interesting ~ thank you for responding.
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I have Yi cameras throughout the house that I can set to alert me to any movement or sounds. No contract required, only internet. I get these alerts to my cellphone. I just installed doorbell cameras to the outside doors, but they are on the inside of the house so I get alerted if she approaches the door. They also can sound an alarm to go off if it opens.

Gold luck and prayers to all of us taking care of our loved ones. It's not easy.
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Malyywa Jun 2019
I like the inside doorbell alarm and good luck to you also. Thank you for sharing.
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I attached noisy wind chimes to the front door.
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Malyywa Jun 2019
Thank you for responding.
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I just signed my mother up with project lifesaver with the police department and put a small door alarm on her door and on the garage door. The other outside doors are locked when I go to bed and the keys are kept in my room. These little door alarms can be turned off during the day and only set at night or when I am in my room. They dont keep her from opening the door but the alarm is loud enough that it would wake me out of a deep sleep. Good luck.
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mom went thru that stage then eventually stopped. I got baby monitors and Amcrest cameras that I can hear see and talk to her thru from anywhere in the house. The cameras even work on my phone from anywhere. Sometimes just talking to them and ensuring everything is ok helps. The baby monitors have been a life safer keeping me from getting up throughout the night. Sometimes telling tell it’s bedtime and everyone is sleeping helps. Good luck. It’s a tough, exhausting and sometimes scary stage.
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Malyywa Jun 2019
Yes it is and thank you for responding ~ good luck to you also.
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We had a terrible time with my dad getting up all night long and even going outside to pee! Nothing worked until his Doctor prescribed my dad trazadone 100mg and melatonin5mg about 1 hour before bed. I also have Arlo cameras with an alert to my phone if he gets up (now rare) I can direct him back to bed.
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Malyywa Jun 2019
Thank you for responding.
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I have alarms on all of my doors that I bought on Amazon. You can make it a simple chime or an alarming siren. I work from home and my husband watches TV in an other room. There have been times that I hear that bell go off and right away I can get to him before he gets too far. It really is a stress reliever especially at night. Hope that us helpful.
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I wonder if in-bed stimulation might be better than worrying about her getting up. Perhaps a mobile of birds or something she likes, white noise, soft music, a stuffed animal or 2 for stroking. I assume she has overnight undies so she doesn't have to get up? Good luck trying things until something "clicks."
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Malyywa Jun 2019
Thank you for responding.
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I use a baby monitor - so if I am awake I hear the first stirrings of husband (Parkinson's - stage 4/dementia/clinically blind) - trying to get up (either from a chair or a bed). However, when I'm in another room - sometimes the baby monitor isn't loud enough (I've tried a couple different ones). I finally got two alarm pads for chairs/beds - through Amazon. The alarm pad sits on the chair or lays on the bed. The alarm box is a distance away - or put behind them (when sitting so they can't learn to turn it off). If a person goes to get up (either from a chair or bed) the alarm will go off - beep - beep - beep - and will continue to do so - until someone (caregiver) turns it off. It is quite loud and I can hear it anywhere in the house. Sometimes (not always) - when husband hears the alarm, it reminds him to stay and not try to get up (as he will fall) - or I'll just say - it slows him down a bit - giving me enough time to get to his room / side. For me - the alarm pads have been a life safer - allowing me to move around the house and not have to stay close to him. They box uses a couple of batteries. Depending on how much the box beeps, will obviously depend on how long the batteries last. I think I change them about every nine +/- months or so.
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Malyywa Jun 2019
Thank you for those suggestions.
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Malyywa Jun 2019
Thank you ~ very informative.
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I am a CNA with an Alzheimers client - he hasn't begun wandering, but his house has been fitted with Flip Door Locks (google for products, video) - cheap, discreet and easy to install.

There are also Alarm Mats placed on floor next to bed, so when feet hit it, a separate beeper will alert you that she has gotten out of bed - also sensor mats that you place under the person, so when the pressure is lifted, again, an alarm will beep on your end to let you know.

Can always add safety rails to the bed as well - adult version of a crib, she won't be able to leave the bed.

I was going to mention Melatonin but see you tried that - Trazadone is supposed to be a fast-acting non-addictive med, but different meds affect different people differently (myself, I'm out like a light in 30 minutes).
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Beatty Jun 2019
Beware of the bed rails though. Banned in hospitals where I live due to coroner reports of injuries & deaths caused by falling while attempting to climb over the top. The beds that lower right down to nearly floor level are used instead.

Floor alarm mats work well. Can use near doorway too.
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Could adding another door at the end of the bedroom hallway that could be locked be of any help?
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Malyywa Jun 2019
The bedroom opens into the living room~ it’s one level. Thank you for your suggestion.
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Sleeping pills?
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Malyywa Jun 2019
She was taking Melatonin 3mg in the last 3months it went up to 6mg so her doctor stopped the Melatonin and started Trazodone 25mg........it’s been 3days but I read it can take up to 2weeks before we see full effects........praying this helps her sleep 🌸
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Malyywa, I have read if you place a black throw rug in front a door, the person who has dementia will think it is a hole in the floor and will be afraid to go any further. I've never needed to do this, so I don't know how successful this will work.
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Malyywa Jun 2019
Thank you for responding. Right now all suggestions are helpful 😊
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We got a baby monitor to hear if she bumped around with walker, and we did have to put a latch to keep her in the room. Switching it is a good idea, too.
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Malyywa Jun 2019
Good idea ~ Thank you 😊
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With my aunt we switched the doorknobs to lock on the outside because we have to keep her safe is the bottem line if she got out and froze to death or got a heat stroke or hit by a car maybe fall into a ditch break a leg hip arm whatever works !! We switched the doorknobs it was perfect then ...
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Malyywa Jun 2019
Good idea and yes safety is first ~ thank you so much for responding 😊
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