I'm 20 and i live with my 87 year old grandfather. He has dementia but is otherwise extremely healthy and active. He is always talking walks around the block and to and from where i work, about 4 blocks away. The one of the problems i have is when i'm not home he is contently going into the fridge. I don't mind him going in there for a snack but he opens it about every 10 mins and by the time i come home from work its only 60°F in there. I'm contently having to throw things out. I've told him 1000 times but he just cant remember or docent relies what he is doing. I tried putting a note on the fridge but he takes them off and puts them in front of his calendar where he thinks he will see it. I'm not really sure what to do about this other than put a chain and a lock around the fridge handles. Any experience or ideas?
Your heart to continue to take care of grandpa is admirable.
80° is too hot (the refrigerator was 80°), how hot does the house get?
When my sis was visiting, she turned the refrigerator OFF because it was running and woke her up! Did not tell us, then the refrigerator fan broke.
I am guessing that to keep him out of the Westinghouse, you don't put him in there in the first place!
Then, APS will come out and charge you with elder abuse! Lol.
Please let us know how the temperature alarm works, cause how is he gonna know how to turn it off if you're not home?
"CDN TA20 Audio Visual Refrigerator Freezer Alarm"
Sounds an alarm when the the fridge gets too warm. Maybe that will work.
Sendme2help, I like the alarm idea. I will look for one on amazon. Most the time he doesn't take anything out of the fridge and I keep the fridge nicely laid out so its easy for him to find what he wants, as with the rest of the kitchen, otherwise he says we are out of it and i end up buying more :P.
gladimhere, I was not serious about the lock i was just a little frustrated. I'm not that cruel.
Well, Grandpa will have lost his ability to learn: "If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times-keep the refrigerator door closed!
Hugs!
This will remind him. Make it unpleasant to stand there too long. Or, it may confuse him and he will close the refrigerator door to go answer the front door.
Double-check if the door is closing all the way, either by itself or by him. That is a problem at my house. Sometimes it has not been closed tight. Set the fridge tilted back towards the wall so it will close automatically-most have adjustable feet for this-taller in the front.
Pre-empt his need to be standing there long by preparing a plate covered in plastic, first thing you see, has his favorite food on it.
Make a realistic assessment of his ability to be left alone.
Using a monitor, observe his habits-when he goes to the fridge the most. Have a neighbor stop by for a brief visit.
There is also technology, motion activated, pre-recorded, yours can say: (whatever you want to get him to close the door)!
Household refrigerators really aren't meant to be left open for long periods of time frequently.
I wonder if instead of trying to keep him out he might remember better when he can go in. A big sign saying he can open the fridge at 9:30 and 12:00 and 2:00 etc. (or whatever) might make a bigger impact. Or might not. Sigh.
Or ... could you help him select the things he wants for the day and place them in a cooler with some re-usable ice packs? Would he like to have his own snack supply?
This is tough. It is awesome he is still so independent, but you need the fridge to work! I hope you can work something out. Let us know how this goes. We learn from each other!
Is there anyway to keep snacks out on the kitchen table or counter for Grand-Dad? Look for things that don't need to be refrigerated. For drinks, room temperature water works great, no need to refrigerate it.