My husband is likely in the middle stages of dementia and I have been trying to learn what I can to deal with the many challenges. I’d like to share a couple of suggestions that I have found helpful and ask others to share your best tip.
I am still in a place where I can occasionally leave him alone overnight, if I make all of his needs as easy to manage as possible. Toward that end a nurse friend suggested this product which organizes meds, provides an alarm when they are due and is locked so he can not get to the meds for other times. https://a.co/d/8omP3bR
The other suggestion came from a friend who looked after her mother’s needs. At her suggestion, I bought and installed small indoor cameras so I could check on him when I’m not there. They are remarkably cheap, easy to use and effective. I told my husband that I had put them in so we could keep an eye on workmen in our home, because of course, he never loses things. They are stolen.
I may consider cameras at some point but I still won’t be any further away than in the yard or another room. Too many scary things have happened already and I can’t imagine watching them happen remotely from an hour away.
The pill thing might be helpful for as long as he can remember what’s making that beeping sound and what he’s supposed to do when he hears it. If I have to tell him, then what would be the point?
I appreciate that these things have been helpful for you and may be for others early on but honestly, the best tips I have are hide the car keys, see a elder law attorney and get a diagnosis as soon as you can so you know what to expect and how soon to expect it.
Oh, and keep an eye on this forum; you’ll learn something every day.
Another tip is in regard to the bathroom. Eventually a person who has dementia cannot find the toilet because to them everything in the bathroom is white, so they get confused. Tip is to have the toilet seat in a different color, such color seats can be found at Home Depot/Lowes.