Home Safety

I wanted to post some more tips on caregiving. I never had any of these tips when mom started getting bad with her Alzheimer's so I like sharing these with the people out there just starting this long road. I never liked reading about this disease much. I never even liked it when people tried to give me tips. But here I am doing it to you. Only when I have nothing else to post about. Sorry.
1. Try to make your love ones  world simple.
2. Use plain -colored placemats, tablecloths , bath towels and sheets.
 Be careful about using tablecloths or even stuff on your end tables. Mom would put her hand on the table for balance and it slipped off and down she went with everything on the table coming done with her.
3. Block off stairs so they can't fall up or down them.
4. Have all of your house locks keyed to the same key.
6. Place safety latches up high and down low on doors leading to the outside.
7. Have her wear an Id bracelet if she wanders, and sign her up for the Alzheimer Association's Safe Return Program .
 I have told you this before I think but we almost lost mom at the mall once.  My brother saw her turning the corner way at the other end of the hallway . Good thing he had good eyes or we  would of  lost her. No more leaving her alone at the table while we went to get our plates at buffets anymore.
Mom did not like to walk much. She has always had bad legs. So when we went anywhere with lots of walking she like to find a nice spot and sit . She loved watching the people go by and visiting with others sitting close to her. At Wal-mart she would sit on the benches in the front of the store and we would get her on the way out. She had done this for years. Sometimes she would shop a little than want to go sit down. But she started getting up and wondering the store . Only happened a few times. I still did not relize she did not know what she was doing. I thought she just wanted to find us or look around . This was before the Mall thing. But after the Mall I stopped leaving her alone anywhere. Stuff like this is when your life starts changing. Having to be with her 24/7 . Not being able to just rely on her to take care of herself and you do what you need to do. It is the beginning of a whole new world. I keep thinking back to all the times she would be sitting at a bench some where while we were off doing things. It is scary because someplaces could of been very dangerous. If she had been wondering at that time. Thank the Lord for watching over her when I was not.
8. Use locked cabinets for soaps,cleaners, poisons, and medicines. I found mom trying to eat something weird once but I can't remember what it was. I think it was an napkin. She was at the finger food phase . Every thing she could pick up went in her mouth. I kind of liked that stage she still fed herself. Just had to make sure she was eating the right stuff.
9. Take up all throw rugs. We never had throw rugs . We have carpet in every room almost . Even in the kitchen for awhile. I pulled that up as soon as I could. It was nasty.
These tips are from Coach Broyles Playbook for Alzheimer's Caregivers