There are 35.6 million people with dementia worldwide. Adult Day Care is a treatment model for coping with the disease. How can people with Alzheimer's disease be transported to and from daycare safely?
Here is a list of some of the symptoms of dementia that affect safe use of roads:
- Disorientation to time and place
- Distraction of attention when crossing the street
- Low risk perception
- Sensory impairments (hearing and seeing oncoming cars)
- Slow movements.
Risk factors during transportation:
- On one way street they may need to cross the street to get into a van that only has doors on one side.
- While waiting for the van they may cross the street by themselves and wander in the street.
- Many elders fear wearing seat belts.
- Staff don't want to force the elders to wear a seat belt.
- Disoriented elders may open car door while waiting at traffic light and try to get out of vehicle.
- During the ride restless elders may distract the driver.
- Some drivers may be volunteers and may not have proper training in safety precautions
Melabev has been running Adult Day Care centers for people with dementia for 30 years.
Recommendations for best practice based on these years of experience include:
A person ( family member or caregiver) must accompany the elder while they wait for the transportation vehicle ( to aid them in crossing the street and to prevent wandering into the street) and must wait for the person when they are returned home. .
A staff member from Adult Day Care must accompany the transportation to calm clients, help them in and out of the vehicles and deal with issues that may arise during transport.
All participants involved in transportation (paid and volunteer drivers, day care staff members, and family caregivers) must receive proper guidelines as to the transportation procedures.
