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Dec. 2, 2008

Melanie Phillips: The Mumbai atrocity is a wake-up call for a frighteningly unprepared world

Stratfor Geopolitical Intelligence Report: Strategic Motivations for the Mumbai Attack

Dec. 1, 2008

Max Freidlander, as told to Jacklyn C. Wadler: India Inkings

Mark Steyn: Whodunit!?

Nov. 28, 2008

Rabbi Ahron Rapps: An evil seed that didn't have to be

Melanie Phillips: Carpe diem --- or can we all relax now?

Nov. 26, 2008

Michael Feldberg: Meet the Orthodox Jew who laid groundwork for scientific development of ordnance that undergirds America's current world leadership

Andrea Simantov: Shades of life

Nov. 25, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Getting Emotional For Influence

The Kosher Gourmet by Ethel G. Hofman : Thanksiving feast!

Nov. 24, 2008

Rabbi S. Binyomin Ginsberg: 'I just Became a grandchild!'

Barry Rubin: Don't flatter your enemies, protect your friends

Nov. 21, 2008

Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: Money matters?

Caroline B. Glick: Civilization walks the plank

Nov. 20, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: Bronfman's blindness

The Kosher Gourmet By Linda Gassenheimer: Portobellos add a hearty flavor to pasta with pesto

Nov, 19, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Spread the wealth? Jewish tradition and income equality

Elliot B. Gertel: 'Mad Men': Tackling prejudices or reinforcing them?

Nov, 18, 2008

Dr. Debby Schwarz Hirschhorn: The End of the Age of Reason

Jonathan Tobin: Does Barack + Bibi = Disaster?

Nov, 17, 2008

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: The End of the Age of Reason

Diana West: Gulling Americans into making terror legit?

Nov, 14, 2008

Rabbi A. Henach Leibowitz: The Power of Spiritual Inertia

Caroline B. Glick: The perils ahead

Nov, 13, 2008

Stratfor Intelligence Briefing: How Bush and Obama together could change the Middle East dynamic

The Kosher Gourmet by JeanMarie Brownson: Sweet and savory, crispy and meltingly tender bestilla

Nov, 12, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir : Tyrannical Co-Workers

Michael Doyle: High Court to consider today donated monuments that may have religious messages in public parks

Nov, 11, 2008

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Will Obama stop government officials considering institutionalizing financial jihad?

Jonathan Tobin: They Will Decide Their Own Fate

Nov, 10, 2008

Rabbi Avi Shafran: $8 billion, modern-day Tower of Babel being built?

Barry Rubin: A letter to the president-elect from a Middle East realist

Nov, 7, 2008

Rabbi Francis Nataf: Of Children and Immortality

Caroline B. Glick: Livni's Obama strategy

Nov, 6, 2008

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: How I tricked a classroom of apathetic students into grasping the fallacy of moral relativism

The Kosher Gourmet By Gina Kim: Tips for making the perfect soup --- includes recipes

Nov, 5, 2008

The Jewish Ethicist By Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Destitute Debtors

Bruce Weinstein: 'Religulos': Bad title,even worse movie

Nov, 4, 2008

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Treasury Dept. submits to Shariah law

Frida Ghitis: A surprise for Obama in the Middle East

Nov, 3, 2008

Jonathan Rosenblum: Who says Jews are Smart?

Jonathan Tobin: Was He Wrong About Everything?

March 22, 2007

J-Rhythms with Avraham Rosenblum: JWR's cutting-edge music program showcasing performers -- singers, song writers, musicians, and bands -- who learn and live the Torah lifestyle (OUR NEWEST IGODCAST !)

Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review August 19, 2008 / 18 Menachem-Av 5768

Should we move our wandering Mom to a new facility?

By Jan L. Warner & Jan Collins


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Q: After Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's three years ago, my father took care of her at home until he was unable to do so due to stress and safety concerns. (Mom wanders.) When she was home, it sometimes took us hours to find her. She's repeatedly ended up wandering near a busy highway. The police picked her up several times, and Dad was almost charged with neglect.


Finally, when Dad reluctantly agreed to admit her to a nursing home, we emphatically told the facility that if they did not continually watch her, she would be out the door in a heartbeat. The nursing home assured us they had security systems that would prevent this.


However, Mom has been able to get out of the facility three times in the past month. The last time, she was gone for nearly six hours. The facility tells us they are reviewing their systems and have not had this problem before. Should we leave her there or move her to another facility? We are paying a pretty penny for her care.


A: Because of cognitive deficiencies, wanderers misperceive their environment and tend to place themselves in dangerous situations. According to a study by the University of Florida, 60 percent of all Alzheimer's patients will stray at least once. And, of those who are gone for more than 24 hours, up to 46 percent may die. Many more may be injured from exposure to the elements or from being struck by a motor vehicle. With the number of dementia and Alzheimer's patients increasing, wandering is fast becoming a law-enforcement nightmare. And, as your father found out, criminal charges of neglect may be lodged, especially when the conduct is repetitive.


Nursing homes have an obligation — not only to identify wanderers, but also to develop and implement prevention programs. According to federal law, Medicare- and Medicaid-\certified facilities must develop and then review and revise each resident's plan of care every 90 days unless there are significant changes in the resident's needs, in which case more frequent care-plan review is mandated. It seems in your mother's case that the facility's systems are lacking and unacceptable, especially in light of your upfront warnings to the facility about this problem.


WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Does the facility have a specialty unit for Alzheimer's and dementia residents where the environment is designed specifically for the care of residents who wander or are aggressive? Has the facility made environmental modifications to discourage wandering, such as: 1) putting full-length mirrors on doors and exits, 2) camouflaging doors with wall coverings or window treatments, 3) putting stop signs on doors, 4) installing an alarm system on all exits, 5) placing sensors on resident's wrists or ankles that activate alarms when the resident approaches the exit, and/or 6) using chair and bed alarm systems that activate when moved?


WHAT TO DO: In dealing with situations like this, research should be done before admission. Since families generally don't know what to look for and are under tremendous stress, we can't overestimate the value of hiring an experienced geriatric-care manager to assist in choosing a facility that meets the needs of the family. To find a care manager in your area, go to www.caremanager.org. Meanwhile, since your mother is at risk, we suggest that you obtain the facility's records to determine whether there have been other complaints about patient wandering. If security concerns are not resolved quickly, move your mother to another facility.

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

JAN L. WARNER received his A.B. and J.D. degrees from the University of South Carolina and earned a Master of Legal Letters (L.L.M.) in Taxation from the Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a frequent lecturer at legal education and public information programs throughout the United States. His articles have been published in national and state legal publications. Jan Collins began co-authoring Flying SoloŽ in 1989. She has more than 27 years of experience as a journalist, writer, and editor. To comment or ask a question, please click here.

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