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shillelagh

27-12-2007 17:06

Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

BBC NEWS | Health | Charity backs dementia taggings

The alzheimers society has come out in favour of 'tagging' people with alzheimers and dementia. Im in two minds yes you will find them if they go missing, but they are people they arent dogs or cats etc. What do you think? Maybe in the future if by chance you end up with alzheimers or dementia would you like to be tagged.

BERNADETTE

27-12-2007 17:14

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

I can see the benefits to this, as one lady said her husband used to just wander off and she could spend hours worrying about him. Tagging would be beneficial to both the carer and the person being cared for.

Gayle

27-12-2007 17:17

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Absolutely, without a doubt - I would tag someone if they were suffering with alzheimers. I would agree to being tagged myself as well if I started showing signs of it.

I know of at least two elderly ladies (neither of whom are with us now) who had alzheimers and both of them, at different times obviously, went walkabout and scared the living daylights out of everyone.

kathleen_firth

27-12-2007 17:22

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

i suppose i do agree with some of the points about it
but then again i also think its a little bit degrading and maybe embarrasing for some people.

steeljack

27-12-2007 17:31

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Surely this is the easy way out and an indictment of a poor system of caring for seniors, where the hell is family responsibility ?
Seems to me the folks in favour of this are folks in their 30s/40s who seem to forget that the people they would like to tag are the same ones who wiped their asses for 3 yrs ....:mad: :mad:

BERNADETTE

27-12-2007 17:37

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack (Post 508267)

If you read the article one of the people in favour was a wife. You can't stop these people wandering but you can make sure they can be found:(

Doug	27-12-2007 17:37

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Like the Alzheimers Socity I agree that limited use is in the best intrests of the individual, those that are currently in the early stages will or should be able to make the choice themselves.

Gayle

27-12-2007 18:42

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack (Post 508267)

I disagree with this because this is the exact opposite of what often happens - people are often determined to look after their loved ones to beyond the point where they can actually cope. These people, often elderly themselves, refuse to let their loved ones go into care homes and insist on looking after them themselves. It can take a simple lapse of awareness and someone with alzheimers can be out of the door and half way across town, usually whilst the carer thinks they're in the toilet or asleep. Tagging would be ideal in this situation.

WillowTheWhisp

27-12-2007 19:11

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

I agree with Gayle. I know someone whose elderly father has Alzheimer's and his wife was determined to look after him at home as in his more lucid moments that was where he wanted to be, but he would get up in the middle of the night and go walk about. If she locked the doors he would climb through the window because he thought he was in prison and needed to escape. It wasn't until the next morning often that she would realise he was missing. She got locks on the windows, even got bars on the upstairs windows because she was afraid he would climb through them and fall and break his neck but of course that only confirmed his conviction that he was in prison. He would be found wandering about outside in the rain wearing just pyjamas and no slippers.

So where was the daughter in all this? She couldn't have the father in her home because he refused to believe she was his daughter and flatly refused to have anything to do with her. To him his daughter was 20 years younger than this strange woman who wanted to kidnap him. The daughter herself isn't even in the best of health. His mind may well be failing but he is still a big strong man and will fight anyone if he thinks they are lying to him or trying to lock him up.

When he has got out and gone wandering his family have been worried sick until he has been found again. He is now in residential care because the family are no longer able to cope. Knowing everything they have been through I would not dream of criticising them for reaching this decision which wasn't arrived at lightly.

People talk about tagging taking away the person's dignity. The Alzheimer's has already done that. The tag will help to restore some of that dignity if they can be found before they do anything embarrassing or dangerous.

shillelagh

27-12-2007 19:12

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Like i said i'm in two minds about it. Mainly because i couldnt see me attaching a bracelet or leg tag to my mum and then making sure she was sitting in her chair. I had a good way of keeping my mum in which was take the key for the front door and tying a piece of washing line over the gate at the top which meant she couldnt reach up and open it but yet everyone else could even my niece who was 11 at the time. You do find away round it. Its hard looking after someone who has dementia and you have to make changes to everything you do and the house.

Willow i still looked after my mum even though she called me a prostitute to my face, she said i wasnt her daughter, i was more trouble than what it was worth having me living here.

steeljack

27-12-2007 19:21

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Sorry Gayle , but it seems to me just one more step down the road to 'big brother' where the state watches and controls everything , the idea may be noble in concept but it is just an excuse for the failure of society to take of the elderly . Akin to drugging children with Ritalin because they are rumbustious , its just sticking an elastoplast over the problem an easy way out
You answer your own argument when you say " These people, often elderly themselves, refuse to let their loved ones go into care homes and insist on looking after them themselves." thats where the younger family members have to take some responsibility and as Shillelagh says "Its hard looking after someone who has dementia and you have to make changes to everything you do and the house.

Neil	27-12-2007 19:25

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Quote:

Originally Posted by shillelagh (Post 508368)

Like i said i'm in two minds about it.

Maybe we should tag schizophrenic's as well then :rolleyes::D

WillowTheWhisp

27-12-2007 19:28

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

I suppose a lot of it depends on the person with Alzheimers too. In Shillelagh's case she says her mother couldn't reach up to the washing line tied over the gate so that worked for her, but what if the person with Alzheimer's is taller and stronger than you? What if they can fight you and subdue you?

Personally if it was me I think I'd rather be tagged and know I could be found if I got lost. It's not going to be something ugly and prominenent like a thing for an ASBO surely? We can tag dogs and cats. Some of us who have serious medical conditions wear SOS jewellry to inform in case of accidents what medicataion we are on. Is that an indignity too?

steeljack

27-12-2007 19:38

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

the tags used on animals are skin implants which require scanning after the animal has been found they do not find the animals , the tags suggested for people are tracking tags similar to the ones used with ABSOs , I wonder if the Home Security Business doesn't have a hand in this suggestion as a way of increasing business by offering a tracking service for your nearest and dearest for only £50 a month :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

shillelagh

27-12-2007 19:40

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil (Post 508376)

Maybe we should tag schizophrenic's as well then :rolleyes::D

Why do you want to know where i am at any given time?

Even spug knows ring the mobile and he'll find me and he knows then where i am!!! :D

Gayle

27-12-2007 19:51

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack (Post 508374)

It's not about big brother watching you, it's about an extra level of security so that the family can continue to keep caring for you. The two people that I've seen go through it have had loving and caring and supportive families - all generations helping out. Both ladies at different times went walkabout and a tag to help find them would have saved hours of panic and concern.

WillowTheWhisp

27-12-2007 20:11

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

I think you and I are the only ones who can see it from this point of view Gayle.

BERNADETTE

27-12-2007 20:14

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp (Post 508408)

I think you and I are the only ones who can see it from this point of view Gayle.

No I think the same way it is giving the family a little peace of mind IMO

firth_dawn

27-12-2007 20:40

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

i think its a good idea so if they go wandering off their family can find them and not be worried that they have got lost somewhere.

WillowTheWhisp

27-12-2007 20:43

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Well that makes 4 of us. :)

Lilly

27-12-2007 21:30

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp (Post 508419)

Well that makes 4 of us. :)

Five.

I agree with you and Gayle too. :)

buttonsmum

27-12-2007 21:36

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

I also think this is a good idea, if it gives loved ones piece of mind and helps find them quicker saving them from doing anything embarassing and also saving loved ones hours of panic and concern.

cashman

27-12-2007 22:42

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

well cashys just logged on, and heres another in favour, as was said it MUST be on a voluntary basis, so dont see a problem, dont call it "Big Brother" if people actually request it.:confused:

steeljack

27-12-2007 22:51

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman (Post 508517)

well cashys just logged on, and heres another in favour, as was said it MUST be on a voluntary basis, so dont see a problem, dont call it "Big Brother" if people actually request it.:confused:

how can it be voluntary if the person involved is suffering from alzheimers and dementia and maybe doesn't know what day of the week it is ?

seems to me science/medicine can prevent the physical body from falling apart but can do nothing to stop/delay mental deteriation . :D :D

cashman

27-12-2007 22:53

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack (Post 508523)

thats what was said in the news report, simple as that.

katex

27-12-2007 23:04

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack (Post 508523)

how can it be voluntary if the person involved is suffering from alzheimers and dementia and maybe doesn't know what day of the week it is ?

I wondered this myself Steeljack, however, we need to know a little more on this, don't we.

I do think that is a wonderful idea, and do not regard it as 'Big Brother', but as already stated, a peace of mind to know, that no matter how caring or vigilant you are with your loved ones, these types of illnesses take 24 hr. care, and to know that they can be found quickly if they wander away at some stage is more than reassuring.

Remember this thread by Thomas.Lee ... she was lucky, but could have easily finished up in the canal:-

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...eek-34756.html

blazey

27-12-2007 23:22

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

I think its quite a good idea but it depends on what the device looks like. Its hardly something that can be misused, people with alzheimers are only going to benefit from being found when they have gone out on their own and cant be found.

LancYorkYankee

28-12-2007 21:51

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Not sure what the count is . . . (and no it's not cause I'm losing my mind LOL), but I agree that it sounds like a good idea.

Brian

Bonnyboy

28-12-2007 23:19

Re: Tagging for alzheimers and dementia sufferers

Tagging to me is a promising idea. Although the term “tagging” is somewhat off-putting. I am not a professional but do have experience on a first hand basis. I care for my partner full time, gave up work, get paid a pittance from the state ( although that’s an aside, it was my choice ) It is hard work and there have been times when I have thought I have lost her, just doing the weekly shopping trip. It’s frightening when this happens ( there’s always someone willing to prey on the vulnerable ) You just cannot be there every second of every day. She has early dementia. When the News item came on, she sat up, took notice, shook her head and said “that’s not fair” I will leave it at that, things may change who knows.

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