GRAND LEDGE, Mich. — The cold weather can be brutal for all of us, but it's an even greater concern for people who live with dementia and may tend to wander off in the dangerous temps.
FOX 47 News' Cryss Walker spoke with specialists to find out how care-givers can keep their loved ones safe.
Imagine becoming disoriented and suddenly forgetting where you are or how you got there.
Now imagine experiencing those changes outside in the cold and not remembering how to get home.
“So when we hear the term dementia what that really means is cognitive changes that are significant enough to impair daily function”, said Senior Program Specialist Cammi Robinson from the Alzheimer’s Association.
According to the association, 60 percent of people who live with dementia will wander which can pose a serious threat in frigid temperatures and even turn fatal.
Caregivers can also prevent wandering emergencies by adding high locks to the doors.
Keeping the house well-lit can help fight sun-downing and minimize confusion from the shorter winter days.
It's also a good idea to get your loved-one a GPS tracking device and register them with Medic Alert to help first responders identify them if they do get lost.
“With these extreme conditions would 100 percent recommend if someone living with any type of dementia related illness wanders outside of the home we recommend at this point calling 911 immediately”, Robinson explained.
It's also important to help your loved-one dress in warm clothes for the extreme cold.
For more resources on ways to care for someone living with dementia call 1-800-272-3900.
