In an article from The News & Observer dated 9/14/2006, Thomas Goldsmith, staff writer, sets forth one of the most difficult and common problems for those suffering from Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia: WANDERING.
As many as seven of 10 people with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia stray from their residences, according to the Alzheimer's Association. In North Carolina, at least three people in assisted living centers have died after walking away unsupervised during the past eight months.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person's memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate and carry out daily activities. As Alzheimer's progresses, individuals may also experience changes in personality and behavior, such as anxiety, suspiciousness or agitation, as well as delusions or hallucinations. In addition, they may begin to wander.
Teepa Snow, education director of the Alzheimer's Association, Eastern North Carolina said that wanderers typically fall into three categories:
- People seeking to escape. Many are cognitively aware, but may be motivated by a drug or alcohol addiction and determined to leave home.
- People eloping. The term, broadly used to describe a secret marriage getaway, also describes people who leave home to do something that makes sense only to them - to show up for work,care for a child, or attend church, even though the time of day is wrong, or the day of the week is different from the usual schedule.
- People who wander purposelessly. This occurs when people with dementia are attracted to whatever they see.
"They have no sense of self-preservation; They are operating at the level of an 18-month - or 2-year-old child." Snow said.
The problem is greatest for the care-givers. Those charged with the 24/7 job of protecting the dementia sufferers from themselves and their surroundings. In an article included in the Summer 2006 edition of Generations, the journal of the American Society on Aging, (ASA) "Not Quite a Panacea: Technology to Facilitate Family Care-giving for Elders with Dementia" some hope is extended for primary caregivers through the application of existing technology. Using cameras, wireless sensors, cell phones, and a program that utilized an Internet based website, a warning system was developed to assist with the care of Alzheimer's sufferers. The conclusions drawn from the research encourage the use of the experimental interventions to the extent that they become programs of service. The article, together with several others, is contained in the edition mentioned, which ASA dedicates to the theme: Technology Innovations and Aging.
Alzheimer's takes an enormous toll on society. The Alzheimer's Association and National Institute on Aging estimate that current direct and indirect costs of caring for the 4.5 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease are at least $100 billion annually. By 2030, when our entire baby boom generation is over 65, the number of Americans with Alzheimer's will soar to levels that may exceed our ability to absorb the added cost.
Hope for the future rests in the accelerated research that is being done to clarify the role of cardiovascular factors or other aspects of risk that individuals may be able to influence through lifestyle changes. A strategy to delay the onset of Alzheimer's by five years could halve the number of affected individuals over the next 50 years.
For more information about Alzheimer's research, treatment and supportive care, please contact the Alzheimer's Association.
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