Mom has early dementia. Our front door doesn't have deadbolts or any lock that is hard for mom to open. So what can I put in there?
All doors have chimes so that I know when they open and I can check on mom when I'm at home. But I can't take mom everywhere with me when I go out. She panics when she doesn't see me for 15 minutes and I don't even want to think about her opening the front door and looking out.
Thank you so much
Teepa Snow gave some tips (like others have already mentioned). One was to put a black rug in front of the door, because sometimes they see it as a hole in the ground. And also to make the door so it doesn't look like a door, which seems easier in a facility where it can sort of blend into the wall.
I think you will also soon be running into the problem where she will open the door when someone rings/knocks on it.
She used the deadbolt system with a key around her neck. He was never left alone. Your mom sounds as if she may be at the stage of always needing someone there.
He also had seizures. The fire department had access to her key in a lockbox with a code to get into her home in case of an emergency.
I suppose the the same concept would work for dementia patients.
She didn’t have any knobs on her stove. She had no knives or scissors in sight. She ate and drank from plastic dishes and cups. She was afraid of him breaking glass plates or glasses. She pretty much child proofed the entire apartment for a 25 year old son.
For years I had deadbolts that are keyed inside. I wore the keys around my neck.
For the garage door I had a key pad installed on the inside so to open the garage door you have to punch in a code just like outside. This way he could not get out through the garage.
And as simple as this sounds it works for some. Put a Large area rug in front of the doors. Dark in color. To some with dementia spacial cues are important and a dark rug looks like a hole in the floor so they will not strep on it
Keeping them safe from the real danger of walking off is more important than what ifs.
Look at your local hardware store for child locks, place them high up and mom will never even see them. My granny was was kept in with little tab locks that fold over the door frame to stop the door from opening. Pushing them up opened them. It really is important to put anything, even a chain lock above eye level. Demented people don't look up.
It is scary and tiring to be chasing a wanderer all the time. Keeping them securely inside does allow you a level of comfort to get household chores done.
It is probably time for mom to have 24/7 supervision, I am sorry. That requirement changes everything and usually leads to facility care, you can't keep up with the energy they have, it takes a village. My granny would pace the halls in her wheelchair chair nonstop for 18 hours a day.
Hope this helps -
Sparkles
When he was in his room with the door shut, I would close the door to the bathroom across the hall. Then, I would tie a rope between them. No matter how hard he pulled, he couldn't open his door. No, it wasn't nice but that's what siblings sometimes do!
Anyway, do you have a railing on your front porch that you could tie a rope to so that the door can't be opened from the inside? Maybe even put some bells on it so that you hear her pulling on the door?
Obviously, it would need to cut to length and installed in a way that it can be easily tied/retied.
But, like others have said, the safest option is having eyes on her at all times. The worry of her starting a fire would bother me.
Enjoy your Sunday.
I see in your profile you would like to move Mom into a care facility after you get the financial side organized. Please consider contacting the Area Agency for Aging (AAA) social worker to see if there is an adult day care where your mother could stay a few hours daily during the week and to see if Mom would qualify for some in home care hours. AAA could also help you get the financial stuff in order for Mom's placement. Good Luck.
Your question about Mom getting out. My cousin had key only deadbolts put on the inside of the door. But, my Uncle was never alone, he had an aide during the day because my cousin had to work. Because my cousins room was in another area of the house, he didn't hear my Uncle go iut the door. After my Uncle passed, my cousin removed the locks because they r considered a fire hazard.
So sorry to hear that it has reached this stage, but I can't see an answer for you that would be safe for her.
But, it sounds like mom is at the stage she should not be left alone. Find help so you can get out when you need to. Or find appropriate level of care for mom.