There aren’t many conditions that make an older adult as highly dependable on others as dementia. As the condition progresses, it becomes essential for the caretaker or the loved one to ensure that the patient stays under their supervisions all the time. Leaving a patient with dementia alone can lead to all sorts of dangers. In this blog, we will tell you about the risks of leaving a loved one with dementia alone.

• Wandering - It does not matter whether a senior has lived in the same house for decades. Once their dementia becomes more advanced, seniors find it extremely difficult to get back to their usual place after wandering for a while. Wandering is pretty common with Alzheimer’s patients, especially when there is no one keeping an eye on them. That is why it is essential for families to either hire a professional caregiver to keep an eye on their loved one or monitor the movement of their loved one on their own. Whoever takes the responsibility of watching a dementia patient must always stay alert.
• Ability To Make Normal Decisions Goes Down - Dementia is directly related to symptoms such as loss of memory, language, and problem-solving abilities. A patient with dementia will open the door for anybody, sign on any papers, go out with anyone, etc. Such patients lack the ability to differentiate between what is good and what is bad for them. They need a person by their side who will help keep them safe from scammers or anyone with ill intentions.
• Slow Reaction Time - As we mentioned above, people with dementia begin to lose their cognitive abilities. Their lack of mental abilities can put them at great risk in times of emergencies, which require quick and effective actions. In situations such as break-ins, household fires, gas leaks, etc., a person with Alzheimer’s or any other form of dementia will most likely struggle to act instantly. People with such conditions always need a caregiver by their side who will help them get out of an emergency situation immediately.
• Likelihood of Falling or Tripping - It is common for many patients with dementia to fall or trip whenever they walk by themselves. This happens because patients with diminished cognitive abilities struggle to balance, coordinate, and judge distances of objects. That is why it is necessary that a device such as bed alarm for fall prevention is installed around a dementia patient’s bed so that when he or she tries to get off the bed on their own, the caregiver gets alerted right away.

As you can clearly see, leaving a dementia patient alone can be a risky decision. It is therefore recommended that such patients should always be under the supervision of a qualified caregiver or a vigilant family member. To help a caregiver better supervise a senior, bed alarms for dementia patients should be used. For instance, at Kerr Medical, you can find bed alarms and chair alarms that are designed to help caregivers attend to seniors with mental conditions. As soon as you the patient moves, the caregiver gets alerted using these alarm systems.