My dad took off--his memory loss prevents his return

[EJBasile]

I find Alzheimer's Disease to be one of the worst diseases to watch occur.

A very good friend of mine's wife has it. She randomly has birthday parties for him. When they were moving and packing boxes she would forget that she was packing and thought she had to unpack the things.

It sounds funny but it is just so sad to watch happen.

 

[GFLPraxis]

Perhaps get a car with an OnStar system or something similar that allows you to track and remotely shut off the car's engine at will.

Sounds like a very difficult and strange problem you have.

 

[Doctor Q]

I'm glad things turned out ok (although the medical problem remains).

I remember reading about a home for Alzheimer's patients that had a large garden full of paths, which helped calm those who like to walk around, but with all paths leading back to the same few areas so that nobody could really be lost there. But every patient with Alzheimer's or another condition that causes confusion is different, and it's hard to judge what's best for them and their families.

Do they have any kind of tracking devices for people that could be attached to you dad's clothes or shoe? I imagine that they do. Perhaps that's one way to keep track of him if he goes wandering again, with or without a car.

 

[WinterMute]

Good news bous, I'm glad he's been found alive and well.

 

[Lacero]

I believe it's true. As people get older past a certain age, they become more childlike in behavior, but also in the physical sense. They take on a baby-like quality. They laugh at the smallest things, they take lots of naps, and they require sanitary care.

From a spiritual level, it's like God is preparing them to be born into another plane of existence.

 

[bousozoku]

The van is a mess. He apparently ran into a tree, from what I've been told. Mum's taking him off the policy immediately. She also half-joked about putting a lock on his door. I suggested a slot for food.

He will never drive again. He could have killed someone.

We're so upset about it and yet, he doesn't even realise that it happened. The aunt who was contacted to gather him and the van doesn't work but her husband does and took off work to take care of it. Family is a great thing.

 

[mactastic]

I'm no doctor, but this is sounding like more than just memory loss due to age.

Bous, I'm glad he was found safe, but I think you guys need to think about getting a second opinion. Not remembering that you ran into something is a pretty major lapse. I remember that happening to my great-aunt before we had to take her car away (and I got to drive a '51 Plymouth Cranbrook with 45,000 miles on it for a while )

Best wishes.

 

[SilentPanda]

Thats terribly unfortunate. I can't even imagine... Glad you found him though!

I know you mentioned something about hiding the car keys but I would even suggest going a step further and actually "locking up" the keys. If you check some home security web sites out there you can (for fairly cheap) get a small box that holds keys and has a combination on it which mounts on the wall. Then all the drivers in the house need to know is the combination to get the car key and there is no chance of your father grabbing the keys and leaving.

There are also devices which you can have installed in your car which will allow you to track your car anywhere in the U.S. via GPS. In the event that he did get out you would instantly be able to locate him (or at least the car). Many of the devices will allow you to also shut off the car, lock the doors, etc. Obviously not a good idea to shut off the car while it's going down the interstate so I don't know that you would need those features. But if you knew where the car was then local authorities could be notified.

I believe that there are also personal locators which can be purchased but I don't know much about those. Obviously there would have to be a willingness on his part to carry the device around.

Good luck and I hope that you don't have to go through this again! It sounds incredibly frightening.

 

[bousozoku]

It's more frustrating than frightening, except that he might have killed someone in the process.

He's had 2nd, 3rd, and 4th opinions. Doctors are stupid about the brain and have to guess a lot. (They guess a lot about other things, too, but they're better guesses.) He deteriorates because he doesn't care to improve. It would require effort and he doesn't want to expend any effort and since he's saving it, he'll probably outlast me.

The tracking device should no longer be necessary for the van since he will no longer be driving. Perhaps, a harnass similar to those I've seen children wearing would be a good idea.

Thanks again for caring! I'm glad to be part of such an online community.

 

[Don't panic]

It's more frustrating than frightening, except that he might have killed someone in the process.

He's had 2nd, 3rd, and 4th opinions. Doctors are stupid about the brain and have to guess a lot. (They guess a lot about other things, too, but they're better guesses.) He deteriorates because he doesn't care to improve. It would require effort and he doesn't want to expend any effort and since he's saving it, he'll probably outlast me.

The tracking device should no longer be necessary for the van since he will no longer be driving. Perhaps, a harnass similar to those I've seen children wearing would be a good idea.

Thanks again for caring! I'm glad to be part of such an online community.

even if he's not driving, you might want to consider a personal tracking device
some are watch-like : http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3741901/

 

[bousozoku]

even if he's not driving, you might want to consider a personal tracking device
some are watch-like : http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3741901/

We don't have to worry. It would be too much effort for him to take a walk. He's been told by his doctors to take a 45 minute brisk walk every day but he refuses.

Thanks, though.

 

[StealthRider]

Some police officer just called. I was a bit too far asleep to get the fone clearly at my ear but he was found in Warren County, Ohio, which is between Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio or around 75 miles away.

Holy crap that's like 25 miles or so from where I live...strange coincidences. Glad he's safe!

 

[mkrishnan]

I'm glad it sounds like he's safe, Bousozoku. I hope you are able to find some way to get him to do the things that are good for him without endangering himself....

 

[bousozoku]

Holy crap that's like 25 miles or so from where I live...strange coincidences. Glad he's safe!

I think he was almost exactly at state routes 63 and 123, near Lebanon. How he got there, I still wonder. I suspect he took U.S. 35 to Eaton and took state route 725 from there. The rest...who knows?

Thanks to all of you for caring!​