Preventing Injuries in the Dementia Patient

It may not be possible for a dementia patient to prevent themselves from being injured. Aside from the confusion, they may have also lost the ability to read, the knowledge of how to use familiar tools, and the awareness of what might be dangerous.

Preventing injuries in the dementia patient; therefore, becomes very important. As a caregiver there are many things you can do to make your loved ones surroundings safer, but, of course, constant diligence is always necessary.

We found that our Mom became very much like a child. She would try to put things in her mouth that weren’t food. She’d forget to follow us if we didn’t tell her to come with us. The house that Paula lived in at the time had a step from the entryway into the living room and Mom had to be reminded about it every time.

But along with this childlike behavior came the reality that Mom was a grown adult who had been independently taking care of herself for many years. It wasn’t always easy to get her to “obey the safety rules.” We found that prevention was easier than getting her to do or not to do something.

Take the time to safety-proof your loved one’s surroundings. Here is a list of things you can do to keep your care recipient safe:

General Injury Prevention Tips

• Be sure that the dementia patient has proper identification on them at all times. Purchase a medical alert bracelet or necklace and be sure that it is worn.
• Clear as much clutter as possible from the dementia patient’s home including knickknacks. This will not only make the environment less confusing, but it will also help to avoid misplacing items like glasses or hearing aids.
• Set the water heater temperature at 120 or less to prevent scalding.
• Make sure that all furniture, including the bed, is sturdy and safe to get into and out of. Consider using a hospital bed or install safety rails on the side of the dementia patient’s bed.
• Remove any pictures that have glass frames or that are heavy or hang them out of reach. This will prevent them from being knocked off the wall. (Be aware that in the middle stage of Alzheimer’s disease a patient seeing their reflection in a mirror can cause them to become afraid as they may not recognize the image and think that they are in danger.)

Fall Prevention Tips for the Dementia Patient

• Remove throw rugs and make sure that bath mats, area rugs, etc. are securely fastened to the floor. Especially be careful of edges on these kinds of rugs. They can cause a tripping hazard.
• As much as possible, keep the furniture in the dementia patient’s home in the same pattern. Rearranging items could cause them to become more confused or to trip over something that is placed in their familiar path.
• Install grab bars by the toilet and in the tub.
• Be sure that your loved one has non-slip shoes. They may not be very fashionable, but safety is more important.
• Be sure to clean up any spills as soon as possible.

Preventing Chemical Injuries in the Dementia Patient

• Hide spray bottles of any kind of chemical from a dementia patient. It is too easy to spray these in the wrong direction and end up with chemicals in the eyes, nose or mouth.
• Keep household chemicals in a locked cabinet to avoid accidents.
• If possible, do the house cleaning when the dementia patient is asleep, away from home, or otherwise occupied.

Adjust Lighting to Prevent Injuries in the Dementia Patient

• Leave a nightlight on at night to help the dementia patient to find the bathroom. If the bathroom is down the hall leave a trail of night lights to direct the path as well as a dim light on in the bathroom.
• Be aware of the shadows that are cast by various lamps and light fixtures. Shadows can be confusing and scary to a dementia patient.
• Many dementia patients get their days and nights confused. To help with this situation open the blinds or curtains during the day and use lamps only at night. Having a dementia patient up all night will interfere with your sleep schedule and fatigue can make life dangerous for both of you.

Secure Doors Doors and Windows to Prevent Injury in the Dementia Patient

• Install a door knob high up on a door that the dementia patient shouldn’t enter and disable the regular door knob. Usually the dementia patient will try the old doorknob and thinking that it is broken move on to something else.
• Paint a stripe or run a wall paper border all around the room including across the outside door. This will make the door more difficult to identify.
• Place large brightly colored stickers on glass doors. This will alert the dementia patient that there is a barrier there and prevent them from running in to the glass.

Preveting Injuries in The Kitchen

• In the later stages of Alzheimer’s victims may become aggressive and violent. If necessary lock up all knives, scissors, and other sharp objects.
• If the dementia patient lives alone it may be necessary to disable of remove the stove and oven. A pan that boils dry can start a fire if left unattended.
• Either have meals delivered to your loved one or have them eat with you. There are many dangers (chocking, burns, cuts, etc.) associated with mealtimes. It is better to not have the dementia patient eat alone.

Preventing Mealtime Injuries

• Serve food lukewarm to avoid burns. The dementia patient may not be able to tell you that their food it too hot before they get burnt.
• Beware of foods that are potential chocking hazards—nuts, whole grapes, popcorn, etc. Monitor the size of bites your loved one is taking. Cut food into bite sized pieces if necessary.
• Remove items from the table that are not a part of the meal (candles, toothpicks, straws, etc. ) Even salt and pepper shakers can prove dangerous if the contents are inhaled.
• If your loved one is still able to cut their own food be sure to watch them carefully while using a sharp knife.
• Beware of hot soups and drinks. These are easily spilled.

Preventing Injuries in The Bathroom

• Clear the counter of everything except for the toothbrush, toothpaste, and hairbrush/comb. This will make daily grooming easier and eliminate possible hazards like razors, hairspray, etc.
• Monitor your loved one’s grooming habits. Is it time for you to take over shaving or trimming fingernails? It isn’t easy to help your parent or spouse in their grooming or toileting needs, but for safety’s sake, it may become necessary.
• As we said before, install grab bars in the tub/shower and by the toilet.
• Put a big picture of a toilet on the outside of the door to make it easy for your loved one to identify which room is the bathroom. This won’t necessarily prevent injuries, but it could prevent accidents and embarrassment.

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