As it gets cooler out it is more important now than ever to keep an eye on those suffering from Dementia and Alzheimers
OXFORD COUNTY - People with loved ones suffering from Dementia or Alzheimer's are being reminded to be cautious at this time of year.
With these cold temperatures things can get very serious very quickly if someone suffering from cognitive impairment wanders away.
Behavioural Support Worker with the Alzheimer's Society of Oxford Beth Haas says some people might not realize the danger they are in. "One of the symptoms of dementia is a difficulty with decision making. Also a difficulty in judgment and that judgement might be concerned with how to dress in the weather, not taking into consideration that its quite cold outside and I should be wearing something warmer."
Haas says it can also be dangerous because if something happens and no one knows where they are it could be a long time before someone finds them, and when it's cold outside that can have very serious consequences. "Not only do they have dementia to deal with but many of them have other health concerns like arthritis and imbalances. And so all you need is someone to go through a creek or near a creek and if they loose their balance then of course you have hypothermia to deal with and if somebody doesn't know where they are they could be lying there for quite some time."
If someone does go missing, the best thing to do is call the police. Haas says they tell their clients this time and time again. "Better that they called within 5 minutes that someone is missing than to wait half an hour thinking 'maybe he's gone next door,' or 'maybe I can reach him by calling him on the cell phone I've stuck in his pocket. We know that the sooner someone calls OPP or the Woodstock Police, the safer that person is." The police would much rather respond to a call and not be needed instead of being called out to a tragedy later on.
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