You say in one of your replies that your dad "is still cognitive most of the time except for dementia confabulations and disorientation," so you know of course that that changes everything, and that he is NOT being lazy about wearing his medical alert device, but is in fact forgetting to put it on because of his dementia and his brain now being broken. And the fact that he laid on his floor for hours until your sister found him the next day, also tells me that he is now beyond living independently and needs to be placed in either an assisted living facility or memory care whichever he qualifies for. Being in denial over a loved ones condition does no one any good especially your dad. He needs whoever is POA to now step up and do right by him, which means making sure that he is being properly taken care of and is safe. And it probably wouldn't hurt if everyone involved in his care(family wise)educate themselves about the horrible disease of dementia, as knowledge is power and it helps you better understand exactly what your dad is going through.
Oh, one thing I did purchase for my Dad was a rollator walker, one of those walkers which had 4-wheels, a seat [I tried the seat, very comfortable], hand brakes, and basket. My Dad loved it, you'd think I had bought him a Shelby Mustang :)
I could see Dad eyeing some of the other walkers the guys were using. It was like who had the best "car" type of thing.
I read your replies OP. A broken brain needs supervision by staff in assisted living . I do hope this man does not have a working stove which most IL do. It would be one thing to place cameras if he lived in his own home and he subsequently burned it down , but there are other residents there . Do the responsible thing and move him to AL . Your father does not have the ability to recognize where he is safe to live either , so he is not given the choice of where he lives.
And as for his dignity which you mentioned , I don’t think laying on the floor in his own pee and needing his daughter to clean him up is going to make him feel dignified . Having a staff wait on him and not being embarrassed when his daughter visited is going to preserve some dignity . No camera or fall device in IL will do that .
According to your profile your Dad is in IL and your "sister is medical POA and admin at Dad's senior living campus. "
So, is she able to check on him daily?
You'll probably need one that's like a wrist watch that detects when he's on the ground and not moving. Put he has to keep it on.
I had a pendant-style one for my Aunt and she just never wore it so I discontinued it. She has 2 daily caregivers and is 104. She moves so slow and always uses a walker -- it's hard to imagine her falling.
Is your Dad supposed to use a walker? Do you need a service that calls him over a speaker to ask if he needs help? If his memory doesn't allow him to adapt to anything new, then I'm not sure it'll be useful... Maybe consider cameras to check on him...?
You are 100% right about not being able to learn any new "technology" - we had to give up his cell phone and revert to a plain old flip-phone. He still doesn't remember it most of the time. Also had a med-alert system but refused to wear it. This man ran a business and up until this year, chaired the Finance Committee of his IL, and tutored a first grader!! Covid on top of a concussion just ravaged his brain. So...Dad does use a walker always, unless he "forgets." So it seems like we just have to understand this is a risk for him, and try our best to keep him safe. But it's true that there are limits on how much protection you can put into place. Cameras are up for family discussion right now. The good news is that my sister can check on him every day, which she does. Thanks for your advice!!!
There are great devices out there but none of them work unless the person remembers to put them on. And if a person is mobile enough to move, you really are not able to prevent them from falling. Look at the reports from good nursing homes on falls.... they happen. I was standing less than two feet from my Mom when she managed to do a beautiful back flip over the coffee table. She was shocked but fine, I tried to catch her (that didn't work) and hurt my shoulder.
If he is in IL you can put cameras/with a mic in his apartment but you or a family member would have to monitor it (office staff can't do that even with resident approval in ILs in NJ)
My sister and I are weighing the idea of cameras! He is in IL for now. Two weeks ago he fell and somehow because it was on a Sunday, he laid on the floor for probably hours, soaking the floor, till my sister arrived 1st thing Monday morning. But he is still cognitive most of the time except for dementia confabulations and disorientation, and I know he would be furious at "losing his dignity." Also, I don't want to be worrying about checking the cameras every minute. I guess we will threaten the cameras unless he gets it together with wearing his device. All of this is so exhausting especially when the person is combative.
When my Dad lived in Independent Living in a very nice good size apartment, he was also a fall risk. What he did was leave his apartment door opened, as he enjoyed people walking by and saying "hello". Guess he also thought if he fell in the living room or kitchen someone could see him. He did have a pendant but would forget to put it on.
And the fact that he laid on his floor for hours until your sister found him the next day, also tells me that he is now beyond living independently and needs to be placed in either an assisted living facility or memory care whichever he qualifies for.
Being in denial over a loved ones condition does no one any good especially your dad.
He needs whoever is POA to now step up and do right by him, which means making sure that he is being properly taken care of and is safe.
And it probably wouldn't hurt if everyone involved in his care(family wise)educate themselves about the horrible disease of dementia, as knowledge is power and it helps you better understand exactly what your dad is going through.
I could see Dad eyeing some of the other walkers the guys were using. It was like who had the best "car" type of thing.
A broken brain needs supervision by staff in assisted living . I do hope this man does not have a working stove which most IL do. It would be one thing to place cameras if he lived in his own home and he subsequently burned it down , but there are other residents there . Do the responsible thing and move him to AL . Your father does not have the ability to recognize where he is safe to live either , so he is not given the choice of where he lives.
And as for his dignity which you mentioned , I don’t think laying on the floor in his own pee and needing his daughter to clean him up is going to make him feel dignified . Having a staff wait on him and not being embarrassed when his daughter visited is going to preserve some dignity . No camera or fall device in IL will do that .
So, is she able to check on him daily?
You'll probably need one that's like a wrist watch that detects when he's on the ground and not moving. Put he has to keep it on.
I had a pendant-style one for my Aunt and she just never wore it so I discontinued it. She has 2 daily caregivers and is 104. She moves so slow and always uses a walker -- it's hard to imagine her falling.
Is your Dad supposed to use a walker? Do you need a service that calls him over a speaker to ask if he needs help? If his memory doesn't allow him to adapt to anything new, then I'm not sure it'll be useful... Maybe consider cameras to check on him...?
If he is in IL you can put cameras/with a mic in his apartment but you or a family member would have to monitor it (office staff can't do that even with resident approval in ILs in NJ)