|
Group
drafts search-and-rescue manual for people who wander In the 15 years Norm Quenneville has been an administrator, no one has wandered unaccounted for for long periods of time from Parisien Manor, a 65-bed home. But should a resident discreetly follow a visitor out the doors of the facility, the administrator wants an action plan. Quenneville is a member of an eastern Ontario task force, comprised of long-term care providers and representatives from the Ontario Provincial Police and the Alzheimer Society of Cornwall and District. The task force has created an emergency search-and-rescue plan to standardize procedures for residents who go missing from long-term care facilities in five eastern counties of the province. Wandering is a symptom of Alzheimer disease. “There were some incidents in Ontario if there was a proper plan (in place) people would have been found much quicker,” notes Quenneville. According to research, 90 per cent of residents who go missing are located within one kilometre of the long-term care facility. One study, as noted in the manual, found people with dementia will likely die of exposure, dehydration or drowning if they are not found within a 12-hour time period. Quenneville says the awareness about wandering came to light two years ago, with a presentation from the Alzheimer Society. While many facilities have security systems, which include locking doors activated by keypads, some residents manage to slip out behind new visitors, Quenneville says. “Those are circumstances that occur even in a very secure facility.” According to the manual, “there are several precautions to prevent people who wander from becoming lost,” including wandering registries, locked and secure residential areas, providing safe spaces for wandering and staff education. “Having an operational preplan for an emergency search is a sign of strength for a facility,” the manual states. Craig Smith, education co-ordinator for the Alzheimer Society of Cornwall and District, says through research, the society learned not every facility in the Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry, Prescott and Russell communities had the same plan in place. Some, Smith says, didn’t have one at all. He notes that others thought their home’s general emergency plan was broad enough to address wandering. But Smith says it’s crucial homes have a separate, consistent and detailed plan of action should a resident go missing. “We’re doing something pro-active to save a life.” Smith entered into discussions with local police services to see what information officers require from long-term care facilities should a resident go missing. At that point, Smith says, they recognized a substantial need to improve communication between the police services and long-term care facilities. Following those discussions, the Alzheimer Society partnered with sister agency Alzheimer Society of Cambridge, which had helped develop an emergency plan for Waterloo Region. The document for the five eastern counties was modeled after the manual produced by the Search is an Emergency, Waterloo Region Task Force. A similar task force was formed in the five eastern counties and included representation from nine long-term care facilities, John Hatch of the Ontario Provincial Police and two representatives from the Alzheimer Society Cornwall and District. The group met for the latter part of 2002 and throughout this year to develop the manual, which outlines how long-term care facilities can create a plan. The document contains information about planning ahead, such as assessing who is at risk for wandering, having a search kit on hand and educating staff, volunteers, family and community members about the issue. It also contains “strategy suggestions” for a successful resolution if a staff member encounters an exit-seeker. The plan will be implemented at long-term care facilities this fall, thanks to community partnerships and a grant by the Ministry of Citizenship, Ontario’s Community Access Ability Grants Program. Smith says the Alzheimer Society is staying on board to assist in the process. “It’s one thing to hand over another binder. We respect the fact that long-term care staff are stretched.” The task force is also launching a public awareness campaign, targeting people who live within a one-kilometre radius of the long-term care facilities. It will involve delivering pamphlets and fridge magnets to educate community members about what do if they encounter a wanderer. Smith notes there’s a “very clear difference” between a 50 or 60-year-old person out for a walk and someone who is confused and wandering. He says it’s important for community members to watch out for their elders. “It takes a community to raise a child,” says Smith. “It takes a community to support a long-term care facility as well.” __________________________ To contact Alzheimer Society of Cornwall & District:
|