Temporary Hospital Stay and Disorientation

Helen’s episode of agitation which led to wandering

Helen* is a very fit woman of 85 years. She manages well at home,although her family is aware that she has memory problems and Alzheimer’s disease.  Helen was admitted, by her doctor, for a short hospital stay to assess her eyesight problems. Helen became very flustered after her first night in hospital. She could not remember the reason why she was not in her own home and became agitated and disorientated in this new environment. 

Despite reassurance and explanations, Helen tried repeatedly to leave the hospital. Unfortunately, Helen did manage to slip out of the hospital unnoticed and was gone some hours before staff noted she was missing. Hospital staff, the Police and family members spent many hours searching for Helen. Eventually, Helen was found attempting to get into her home via a bathroom window. She had managed to travel many kilometres from the hospital during the intervening hours. 

Identified areas of concern

1. Even if a person seems secure in their private residence, they will still face situations that may put them ‘at risk’ of becoming agitated, confused or disorientated. In Helen’s case, she wandered away from the complex environment of the hospital, but it could easily have been a family picnic, holiday residence, relative’s home or a doctor’s office.  
2. Hospitals are busy places and people with Alzheimer’s disease may become confused and agitated at the change in environment and the constant stream of new faces. These feelings can lead them to attempt to get to a place where they feel secure, hence their desire to wander.  

How the Safe Return Home system could have helped in Helen’s case

1. With a Safe Return Home registration, Helen’s identifying details along with a recent photo, carers contact details, and the likely places she would return to, would be immediately available to the Police. These details could also be released to other people involved in the search and be broadcast via fax and email to local community services. 
2. The Safe Return Home system would have provided Helen’s family with the opportunity to provide hospital staff with a printed summary of her registration details along with her medical and other needs such as her memory problems.
3. Helen’s family would also have had the option of providing staff with access to her Safe Return Home details via the internet.  With access to this information, staff would have been better informed about the risks of Helen leaving and been able to review the family’s advice on ways to help Helen feel relaxed and secure in her new environment.

*Helen is an assumed name to protect the privacy of this family.