Archive for January 7th, 2010

Posted on January 7, 2010 - by Nurse Virginia

The Confused Elderly Person Lost in the Community

An elderly person capable of walking away unattended is at highest risk for becoming lost

When the confused elderly person, looks particularly good, they are at the highest risk for walking out of their home. Whether their home is the family home or in a nursing community. When the confused elderly person is physically fit, walks well, is friendly and cordial they look very good and fit right in, out in the community. Visitors at a nursing community will hold the door, and walk a confused elder right out the door, many times.

Confused elderly who are at risk for walking away:

• The person who had a life style including walking.
• The person with a new place of residence who is not accepting of the move.
• The person, who shows poor judgment, makes poor choices.
• The person who gets angry easily or is easily frustrated.
• The person who is difficult to redirect when they have a fixed idea.
• The person who is always saying they have a place they must be – work, take care of children, go home.
• The person who has their days and nights reversed – wake up during the night, think it is time to be up, and walks out the door.
• The person who is always looking for someone – like their mother.

The best thing to do with a person who wants to walk is to walk with them while using calming conversation to distract them. Knowing the elderly person, so that you can use the names of family members, favorite pets, favorite activities, helps the situation if the elder is upset.

When looking for a Nursing Community, always ask about their security measures.

Virginia Garberding, R.N.

Director of Education, The Wealshire, Lincolnshire, Illinois

Author: Please Get To Know Me – Aging with Dignity and Rlelvance