Safety Locks For Dementia Patients

Best Door Locks For Dementia Patients

If youre caring for a loved one with Alzheimers or another form of dementia who has a tendency to wander, electronic door locks for dementia patients could be an excellent option to help keep them safe. Installing electronic dementia door locks is a simple step you can take to limit wandering and increase your peace of mind.

Discover ten types of wandering prevention door locks for dementia patients to help keep your loved one safe at home.

In this article:

• Keep your loved one safe and protected

Keyless Locks For The Elderly And Disabled

If you are worried about the safety of senior members of your family, you’ve come to the right page. Whether your loved ones are disabled, suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia and often wander off outside the house, or you fear they are more vulnerable to burglaries, our experts recommend some of the most reliable keyless door locks that will make a huge difference.

Home Safety For Dementia Patients

As the U.S. population ages, more and more people will experience the debilitating effects of Alzheimers disease or dementia, which can make them easy targets for injury at home if they are not careful. If you are caring for someone with dementia, these home safety for dementia patients are an essential way to keep them safe and secure in their own home.

Dementia is not a single disease its an overall term like heart disease that covers a wide range of specific medical conditions, including Alzheimers disease. Disorders grouped under the general term dementia are caused by abnormal brain changes. These changes trigger a decline in thinking skills, also known as cognitive abilities, severe enough to impair daily life and independent function. They also affect behavior, feelings and relationships.

Alzheimers disease accounts for 60-80% of cases. Vascular dementia, which occurs because of microscopic bleeding and blood vessel blockage in the brain, is the second most common cause of dementia. Those who experience the brain changes of multiple types of dementia simultaneously have mixed dementia. There are many other conditions that can cause symptoms of dementia, including some that are reversible, such as thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies.

Dementia is often incorrectly referred to as senility or senile dementia, which reflects the formerly widespread but incorrect belief that serious mental decline is a normal part of aging.

Read Also: How To Know If You Have Dementia Or Alzheimer’s

Hide Car Keys And House Keys

In addition to wandering on foot, people with Alzheimers might attempt to drive. Getting lost while driving not only endangers the dementia patient but also the public. Be sure to store keys to all vehicles and exterior doors in a secure place. Coats and shoes may trigger a dementia patients desire to go out or resume deeply engrained routines like running errands, picking up kids from school or driving to work. Keeping these items out of sight may help deter them.

Defender Security U 10827 Door Reinforcement Lock Add Extra High Security To Your Home And Prevent Unauthorized Entry 3 Stop Aluminum Construction

• KEEP YOUR HOME SAFE Designed to withstand 800 lbs. of force, this U 10827 satin nickel finish door reinforcement lock helps to prevent doors from being kicked in, increasing your home security and keeping you and your family safe!
• EASY INSTALLATION The included 3 hardened screws make installation a breeze extra security and peace of mind can be achieved in just minutes!
• ADDITIONAL HOME SECURITY – Use this high security door reinforcement lock for additional home security on any swing-in door of any door thickness. It helps to ensure any door cannot be opened from the outside.
• CHILD-SAFE AND TAMPER-RESISTANT This door reinforcement lock has a spring-loaded design that is both child-safe and tamper-resistant. It can be installed higher on the door where your children cant reach! Plus, not only can doors not be kicked in by intruders, it protects against lock picking and bumping while in the locked position.
• WATCH THE VIDEO ON THIS PAGE for installation tips and operating instructions.

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Summary And Final Recommendations

Taking extra security measures means doing what you can to keep your loved one safe. If your loved one does try to unintentionally wander about, these door security options can let you know right away. Many of these options can make you feel more at ease, including door alarms, doorknob covers, and alarm mats.

You may want to invest in several of these products to use around the home for safety reasons. Once you have invested in the extra door security options, you may get better sleep at night because you no longer need to stress as much!

Do you know of other ways to enhance door security for dementia patients? Tell me about them in the comments below!

Learn More About Safer Homes

Provide A Safe Space For Wandering

Flexibility is key in Alzheimers care. Dementia-related behaviors are the product of a broken brain, which cannot be fixed. Confusion and disorientation can make seniors with dementia scared, anxious, angry and even aggressive. If your attempts to thwart wandering fail to address a loved ones restless behavior and compulsion to move about, you may need to adjust your approach.

Instead of preventing a senior from wandering, provide a safe and supervised place in the home or yard for walking or pacing. Going for walks together during the day may also help curb the impulse in the evenings when many dementia patients experience symptoms of sundowners syndrome and try to elope. Not only will this help a senior maintain their mobility but it will also help them work off excess energy and feel more control over their movements.

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Smart Locks For Seniors

These locks are great at keeping all entryways locked in place at night-time or whenever you and other caregivers are away. They feature knobs and keypads and require the use of a predefined code for unlocking the door. There are models that feature tampering alarms that will instantly disable the lock for 60 seconds and sound a loud alarm in case a person enters the wrong code several times in a row.

The Kwikset ZWave Smartkey Motorized Lever Lock is such a smart lock for seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia. The lock is manageable from any remote location using a computer or a smartphone. It can also send notifications whenever someone enters the house and features important lock bumping protection for extra anti-burglar protection. Installation is easy and the lock can be purchased in a different number of finishes to match the door’s aesthetics.

Home Safety Checklist For Alzheimer’s Disease

Use the following room-by-room checklist to alert you to potential hazards and to record any changes you need to make to help keep a person with Alzheimers disease safe. You can buy products or gadgets necessary for home safety at stores carrying hardware, electronics, medical supplies, and children’s items.

Keep in mind that it may not be necessary to make all of the suggested changes. This article covers a wide range of safety concerns that may arise, and some modifications may never be needed. It is important, however, to re-evaluate home safety periodically as behavior and abilities change.

On this page:

Read Also: How Long Does The Later Stage Of Dementia Last

Top 9 Best Door Locks For Dementia Patients In 2022

Talking To Your Loved One About Driving

Driving is an important aspect of home safety for dementia patients. Its not uncommon for seniors with dementia to keep driving after a diagnosis. If your loved one continues to do so, make sure you continuously assess their judgment, safety, and driving abilities. Discuss your concerns with their doctor and look for online resources to help you talk to your parents about giving up driving.

Keep in mind that your loved one might feel that giving up the keys threatens their independence. They may be afraid of becoming isolated, so think of several options you can propose before you talk.

Similarly, you should assess your loved ones ability to safely use bikes, golf carts, tractors, lawnmowers, and other vehicles. If they can no longer drive, they might try to get around with another form of transportation. If you feel they pose a danger to themselves or others, find a way to prevent access.

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Memory Loss Digital Calendar Day Clock

A digital calendar clock can help people with dementia keep track of their lives. This calendar clock reads the clear time of day: Morning, afternoon, evening, night, and before dawn. This helps the person keep track of the time of day, even if they start forgetting how to perceive time. Because people with dementia can experience sleep issues, its also helpful for waking up at abnormal hours and getting familiar with what date and time of day theyre in.

Pros:

• Battery backup in case the clock gets unplugged or theres a power outage
• A great day of the week clock

Cons:

• Only two display scheme options
• No options for appointment reminders or calendar schedules

Disguise Entrances And Exits

It may seem like an odd approach, but camouflaging doors and windows can sometimes prevent a senior with dementia from finding a way out of their home. Studies have shown that conditions of the brain, such as Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia, can have a pronounced effect on eyesight. While most people only think of the brain and spinal cord as the components of the central nervous system , it also includes the retinas and optic nerves. It isnt yet known exactly how Alzheimers disease and the sense of sight are related, but damage to brain cells seems to interfere with the way the eyes receive stimuli, how information is communicated to the brain and how it is processed there. Furthermore, Alzheimers disease mainly affects older adults who are prone to age-related eye diseases like macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma.

Caregivers might consider painting doors and doorframes the same color as walls or hanging curtains on windows that match the color of the walls. This will help exits blend in with surroundings and make them less visible to loved ones living with dementia. Another optical trick that some dementia caregivers have used is placing a dark, solid colored doormat in front of doors leading outside. Something about the visual effects of dementia may cause care recipients to perceive the mat as a hole in the floor, thereby deterring them from using the door.

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Top 9 Best Door Locks For Dementia Patients Of 2022

We are providing unique ideas about the best door locks for dementia patientsfor all by using our latest technology.You can get the knowledge about best door locks for dementia patients. We also provide a best product reviews and how-to guides that are relevant to the topic. Hopefully, by the end of this article, youll be able to find desired one..

When To Find A Caregiver Or Nursing Home For Dementia Patients

If someone you love has been diagnosed with dementia, you can opt to get a caregiver or nursing home at any time. The early stages are milder and allow the person to still carry out basic functions on their own.

However, in middle-stage dementia, things can get dangerous. The person might get lost, forget their personal belongings, or become suddenly aggressive with behavioral changes. In late-stage dementia, full-time care is often required, as the individual loses the ability to control their bowels, movements, and eating and drinking.

The sooner you seek help for someone with dementia, the better and more comfortable they can be during the nearing end of their life.

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Eudemon 4 Pack Door Knob Cover

As the name suggests, baby safety door knobs offer much-needed relief to parents trying to keep their toddlers from entering certain rooms in the house. Interestingly, this device can also be used for the same purpose by those with a family member in the later stages of dementia.

Remember that this device is a knob cover. It forms a layer over the knob. When a dementia patient tries to turn the knob, the cover rotates smoothly. But the knob itself does not move an inch.

It is observed that dementia patients do not use force to open the door. They will most likely give up after one or two attempts. The package comes with 4 baby safety door knob covers. You can safeguard your entire home with a single pack.

Note that this Eudemon door knob cover is not made with eco-friendly materials. This is one of the biggest drawbacks of this product. Generally, door locks for dementia patients are pure metal or an alloy.

However, this is not a use-and-throw lock. It lasts for years. Once damaged you can dispose of it in a garbage bin. Fortunately, these products are separated from the general thrash and sent back to the factory where they are recycled.

The Thermoplastic Rubber TPR used in this product is soft and gentle on the skin. It is a lot better to have a soft gel-like material rubbing over your doorknob. Metal covers can lead to scratches and lacerations on the doorknob.

This product is suitable for:

Benefits

Drawbacks

Child Safety Strap Locks For Fridge Cabinets Drawers Dishwasher Toilet 3m Adhesive No Drilling

• Adjustable straps are great to child proof fridges, cabinets, drawers, oven, washer machine, toilets, closet, waste bin, etc.
• Simple tool-free installation.
• Our safety straps attach with a strong 3M adhesive to secure your home.
• Our baby safety locks can adjust from 3″ to 7″. They will fit almost any size appliance and furniture.
• Includes Manufacturers 10 year warranty

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Modify Your Kitchen For Seniors With Dementia

Stove locks help give seniors with dementia a sense of independence while also giving caregivers peace of mind. Safety is a priority in senior care, and these devices can help prevent serious injury or fire damage.

While caregivers may believe the home is the safest place for their loved ones, its important to recognize when its time to consider other options. If your loved ones dementia is progressing and safety is becoming more of a concern, you may want to think about memory care. Learn more about other care options by speaking with an A Place for Mom Senior Living Advisor.

U.S. Fire Administration. .Home fire safety. FEMA.

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Shepherd Lock Increases Home Safety Independence For Seniors

Your aging parent may have a caretaker who helps take care of them on a set schedule. It may not always be feasible for them to get up and unlock the door every time someone needs to get inside. Nor is it safe to give every temporary caregiver a house key with which they can get inside whenever they choose with no restrictions.

Shepherd Lock enables you to give access to others via their smartphones. You can instantly give or revoke access and even schedule access just for the hours that it is needed. This is a safe and convenient option for your aging parents.

Shepherd Lock’s app has access history so you can keep an eye on when they are coming and going and make sure it is as expected. As a bonus, you can check their home caretakers are arriving and leaving when they are supposed to.

If you notice the door is not locked when it should be , you can remotely lock the door from your Shepherd Lock app. With Shepherd’s mobile app you can see if the door has been left open and then take the necessary steps to ensure your parents’ safety.

We understand that there is no easy, one-size-fits-all solution to every family situation. We are here to help you support the secure independence of aging adults for as long as safely possible.

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What Else Can I Do To Help Dementia Patients

Aside from getting a dementia clock, finding medical support, researching the best nursing homes, or hiring at-home caregivers for your loved one, there are other ways to support people with dementia.

Monitor and Manage Symptoms

Pay attention to the individuals progression of symptoms. Every person with dementia goes through the process at varying rates. Some people have a life expectancy of only a few years, whereas others live on for decades after diagnosis. The more you monitor and find support for their current symptoms, the safe theyll be.

Get a Caregiver

Getting a caregiver for someone with dementia can relieve the patients and familys stress. Caregivers are professionals who care for those in need. They assist physically, emotionally, and medically. They can help bathe, treat, feed, entertain, and socialize the patient when they need help the most.

Offer Support

You, too, can help emotionally support your loved one. Spend time with them, go on walks outside, remind them to take their medication, and make sure theyre living in a safe and sanitary environment.

Be Patient

It can be frustrating dealing with someone whose memory, personality, and behavior are constantly declining and changing. Its important to stay patient and compassionate with them. Remember its not their fault and they are being gravely affected by a disease.