REP. JOHN ESPINOZA
Alzheimer's Disease
by Representative John Espinoza

Most of us have a friend or loved one who either has Alzheimer's disease or is caring for someone who does. More than 180,000 Michigan residents have Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Association. As our society continues to age, that number will only go up.

The stress on caregivers is tremendous, and much of that stress has to do with worrying about how to keep their loved one safe. It is common for individuals with dementia to wander and become lost. For a number of reasons – including confusion, restlessness or feeling compelled to fulfill a former job or family responsibility – more than 60 percent of people with dementia will wander at some point.

Wandering is extremely dangerous, as we all know from reading about tragedies in which people with Alzheimer's got lost and were not found in time. My House colleagues and I have passed a plan to help find lost at-risk seniors more quickly and prevent these deaths from happening.

As a former police officer, I know how important a quick response is to finding missing individuals. It is also imperative that law enforcement agencies work with local TV stations, radio stations and newspapers' print and online editions to get the word out to the public quickly.

The Senior Medical Alert plan that the House passed ensures that both these essential steps take place when at-risk seniors wander away. The legislation would require police to issue missing persons reports on at-risk seniors as soon as they receive information, much like Amber Alerts for missing children.

As with the national Amber Alert program, the plan would require local law enforcement agencies to work closely with media and transportation officials to alert citizens about the missing senior. The plan now awaits action in the State Senate. Several states have passed similar legislation, including Ohio, Georgia, Kentucky, Colorado and North Carolina.

People caring for individuals with Alzheimer's disease should not be left on their own when their loved one goes missing. It is our responsibility as a society to help keep our at-risk seniors safe and support those who are taking care of loved ones with dementia.

Every family works to prevent wandering and hopes their loved one never becomes lost. This plan will give families peace of mind that if this does happen, local law enforcement agencies will respond quickly and thoroughly to get the word out and help bring their loved one home.

State Representative John Espinoza represents the 83rd House District. You can contact him at (888) 830-0835 or johnespinoza@house.mi.gov.

Tips to reduce wandering

• Provide opportunities for exercise and activities such as folding laundry, listening to music and dancing.
• When night wandering is a problem, make sure the person has restricted fluids two hours before bedtime and has gone to the bathroom just before bed.
• Monitor reaction to medications. Consult a physician, if necessary.
• Use communication focused on exploration and validation - not correcting - when the individual says that he or she wants to leave to go home or to work.
• If wandering is in progress, use distraction to redirect the individual's focus.
• Redirect pacing or restless behavior.
• Place a mirror near doorways. The reflection of a person's own face will often stop him or her from exiting the door.
• Reassure the person if he or she feels lost, abandoned or disoriented.

Source: Alzheimer's Association