My parents have lived in the same house for 65 years and my dad has been walking for miles from the house every day for exercise since he retired 27 years ago (Before that he rode a bicycle to work and back for 30 years.) Now he has moderate cognitive loss due to aging (dementia) and cannot remember how to get home. So we have two different trackers on him, an identity bracelet, and caregivers at home who take care of my mom (who has a bad recovery on a broken hip), and go get my dad when he has been out for more than 30 or 40 minutes. Someone reported him for walking all the time. Adult protective services came to the door and scared the bejeebers out of our caregiver and her agency saying that she was responsible for him and if anything happened to him during his walks she could be fined or go to jail. My dad has not committed any crimes. My parents' wishes are to die in their own home. The caregiver agency is now telling us we have to hire two caregivers, one to walk with my dad and one to take care of my mom. I live in California. I cannot imagine that this is legal, but any advice is appreciated.
People who walk (or wander) and can't find their way home are at risk for NEVER finding their way home. It happens a lot. Identity bracelets are only useful if someone finds him. Sometimes strangers find PWD and call the police. Other times, PWD seek shelter in a shed, forest or desert and aren't found alive. Everyone wants to live in their own home until they die. Not everyone gets their own choice.
What would be great if there was a neighbor who likes to walk could go with your Dad. Walking is so very good for his health, I would hate for your Dad to stop doing this.
Heavens, Albert Einstein use to walk to town and would get lost walking back home. The area he lived, the police were familiar with this, so they would drive him home :)
As jjariz mentioned above, a lot of people rather die at home, but there comes a time when it isn't practical. If your folks could budget for Independent Apartment plus have a caregiver if your Mom still needs one..... if the complex is on many acres, your Dad would walk all day long within the gated community.
Some random thoughts on helping him continue to walk:
Contact local walking clubs and see if any have routes in your area; perhaps he could join one; at least he wouldn't be alone.
Ask the same question of your local senior center; sometimes they have volunteers who can help in various ways. If not, perhaps the staff would be interested in starting a walking program? There may be liability issues, but I've found that senior centers in upscale areas are much more flexible and have better outreach programs than in smaller, mediocre cities (like mine, which seems to offer more casino trips than anything more useful or practical).
Are either of your parents Veterans? There is a volunteer program through the VA, but I don't recall specifically what it offers other than pet therapy. I believe it varies by area.
I don't know whether the caregiving agency can force you to hire 2 more workers. And unfortunately, these agencies typically are members of an oversight agency with standards (I only found one in Michigan that is), so I don't know whether or not an agency can in fact force you to hire 2 caregivers.
Is your mother otherwise alone at home when your father is walking? Does she need 24/7 care, so that she couldn't be alone for 1/2 hour or so?
It seems to me that hiring another caregiver for a minimum of 3 - 4 hours would benefit the agency nicely, although I do understand that these private duty outfits are liability conscious.
You do realize that both your parents will need more help. They may not be able to remain in their home.
I like the idea of enlisting neighbours or finding him a walking group. The exercise is brilliant for him, and it would be such a pity for him to lose it.
Or, does he always go out at the roughly the same time? Would it be hugely expensive to hire a "walking caregiver" or companion for just those couple of hours?
We had a family member who walked just to the end of the block every day, yup, she got 'lost', even on the walk she had done for a decade. Luckily someone stopped when they say her looking agitated and she was only able to remember her daughters first name and occupation. Sally was a school teacher and a call to all the local schools found her and she left work to get her mother.
Tracking devices do not stop a person from wandering into traffic, construction, a water course (a huge issue where I live, lakes, rivers, streams and ocean all close by).
Your father needs a walking companion, either provided by the care agency, or by a family, friend or community member. You do not want your father in the news.
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