Probably the Alzheimer's Store has the best options. alzstore.com

It really depends , if someone is with him in the home all of the time then you could have dead bolts installed where you use a key on both sides and hang the inside key on a small nail at the top of the frame or you could use inexpensice door alarms which can be bought at a Radio Shack but again the dead bolts will only work if someone else is in the home as you mentioned too risky if there was an emergency!

Good Luck!

I got some small alarms for the outside doors and set them at night but he took off a few times during the day. I was able to catch up with him and talk him back. He's no longer mobile now and, while safer, it makes me very sad.

when hubby stated wandering i put on keyed locks from the inside.. it was terrible.. i never had the key, when i needed to out and like others worried about fire.. so took all the keys off, except the one into the garage.. which is the main one he uses al the time.. then i bought baby control knobs, for the door knobs, that just spin when trying to open.. since he has lot of paranoia.. he thinks we are putting them on , so others cant come in.. so each night he goes with me to put them on and each morning i take them off.. i did get a door alarm also.. but havent used it yet.. the trazadone really knocks him out at night, and he has stopped going out at night..

i got all the above at home depot..

good luck i know how scary that is and how hard to try and stay awake and listen to each little noise all night.. imposible!!

I got alarms for the outside doors. I screwed the magnetic parts at the top of each door and they all work on the same chime. I only plug the chime in when Frank is confused and when we have our all-nighter, lately that's been a few times a week. The chime can be set for longer or louder chimes. I didn't want something that rang everytime the door opened so this has worked well for us. I got them at ACE Hardware, they had to order them, I had found them on line. I have found if he gets out when he's in his confused state it's very difficult to talk him back in. I think the baby knobs is a very good idea, especially if they agree and help like cdw's husband. We decided to keep the doors to the car and truck locked because Frank saw people trying to steal them, it also keeps him out, he would remove all the paperwork in the glove compartment, including the registration. Sometimes they play right into our hands.

gerry.. i hear ya on the car/truck.. he wants so much to drive.. hes only 65 and that is the hardest thing that has happened, to lose his lic and freedom.. so everything goes in his car/truck.. the bills as they arrive, notes for grocery shopping, his glasses.. anything that isnt hidden asap, that he finds, off to the car or under the bed.. we spend 30 % of our time looking for stuff and we find it and he hides it again.. if it wasnt so aggrivating, it would be a fun game.... maybe a good name would be hubby hides and wife seethes, oh i mean seeks

cindi

Someone told me I may also have to install a lock in the future. The individual recommended a slide type lock installation similar to this one: http://www.artfactory.com/images/Unique ... HH412.jpeg.

Hope this help

Haha Leone.

I enjoyed the irony of a pretty lock. My mom is the same way. Before coming to live here, hardly anyone in my small town locked their doors. I did but I think 10 people had a key to my house. At mom's house, everything is locked. You did get me thinking though- I am going to stash a spare key outside.

Cindi, your post made me laugh! We played that very game all day long when Ken could still walk. Mine had an added twist, though- when I would find the hidden items (often in the usual places) Ken would praise me and be amazed at my keen mind and skills of detection. Enjoy even that game while you can. Hugs, Sher

As the disease progresses you need to be prepared to watch them 24/7 with video monitors, in person, or in a protected area, if you don't want falls, messes, or bathrooms problems. Get all the help you can find family, friends, agentcies or church. This is a full time plus job!