“Alzheimer’s proofing” has two, interrelated meanings. According to one, the word is a close cousin to babyproofing and childproofing and means to make an environment safer for a person who suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease. So, on this first meaning, you might Alzheimer’s proof your car, for instance (on which, see HERE). A related application would be to make your financial situation more “Alzheimer’s proof” in the sense that you would be better able to handle the expenses of home care or a nursing home, should the unfortunate need arise. (On these – and related – matters, see HERE.)
On the second meaning, to “Alzheimer’s proof” something means to make various changes in order to try to prevent Alzheimer’s Disease (or some other dementia) from ever manifesting in the first place. These could be dietary changes (like subtracting sugar – see HERE – or adding vitamin D – see HERE), lifestyle changes (like sitting less or watching less television – see HERE – or getting more sleep – as discussed HERE).
When do you have to begin Alzheimer’s proofing?
Recall that Alzheimer’s (and other forms of dementia) is a progressive disease. (For an overview, click HERE.) Or perhaps the more apt word is regressive. Nevertheless, the fundamental point is that the Alzheimer’s sufferer’s condition worsens over time.
Persons in a beginning stage, or experiencing what is known as “mild cognitive impairment” – typically described as a precursor of Alzheimer’s – may still be able to operate a vehicle under certain circumstances. (But see HERE.)
But as the person’s cognition declines, the need for enhanced safety measures increases. In its intermediate stage, Alzheimer’s often leaves a person with severely impoverished reasoning and communication abilities. Still, the suffer may be able to walk around (termed being “ambulatory”) and interact physically with his or her environment.
Thus, ideally, you want to have protective measures more or less fully in place by the time a person reaches the “middle” stage. (On the various stages – and the several, competing classification systems – see HERE.)
Once a person enters into advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, however, the need for comprehensive Alzheimer’s proofing may actually decrease. Largely, this is because late-stage Alzheimer’s patients generally lose locomotive abilities, making it less likely that they will be physically able to leave a restricted area without assistance. This decline is by no means welcome, but it does lessen the risk of things like “elopement.”
How much does it cost to Alzheimer’s proof?
The answer is: It varies – widely.
Here’s the deal. It depends on what measures you are putting into place – and when you put them in place.
As to What Measures…
Some Alzheimer’s-proofing methods are entirely free to implement. For instance, it doesn’t cost you anything (monetarily speaking) to take grandma’s keys or dad’s gun. Now, if you decide to invest in a gun safe, as opposed to hiding it in the attic, then that’s something else.
On the other hand, if you decide to remodel your entire house – adding grad bars, ramps, medical equipment, video monitors, etc. – then you’re looking at a sizeable chunk of change. Though, the return on your investment might well be worth it (especially when you factor in the possible disasters that could ensue if you don’t make the alterations).
Think about the alterations and modifications that may be required at every step of the Alzheimer’s deterioration.
In the beginning (or MCI) stage, interventions may mainly come in the form of memory helps (like reminder notes and other visual cues, dietary and other supplements, and the like of those. Or maybe you are – like I am – contemplating making particular lifestyle tweaks in order to minimize your risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Some of these tweaks cost little or nothing. Creating notecard reminders carry a minimal cost, money-wise. Other changes might actually save you money. For instance, if you cut down on fast-food dining, you stand to save a few bucks, in addition to the other, anticipated health benefits.
But as a person’s cognition declines, the need for enhanced safety measures increases. In its intermediate stage, Alzheimer’s often leaves someone with severely impoverished reasoning and communication abilities. Still, the sufferer may be able to walk around (termed being “ambulatory”) and interact physically with his or her environment.
Thus, ideally, you want to have protective measures more or less fully in place by the time a person reaches the “middle” stage. (On the various stages – and the several, competing classification systems – see HERE.)
Sidebar: As to When You Implement Measures…
And this brings up another factor. Suppose that you do not have certain measures in place when the time comes that your loved one begins manifesting his or her need for them. Let’s make it concrete.
At a particular point in his decline, my dad, Jim, would just walk out of the house – at God knows what hour of the day or night. Sometimes he would return on his own. Other times, my mom or I would have to retrieve him. On one memorable occasion, he was brought back by a police officer, who observed him wandering along a major street during a snow storm.
Once Jim got to this point, it was apparent that we needed to better secure our entryways. As I have related ELSEWHERE, one thing that I did was to add braces to keep the door shut even if it was unlocked. Another thing that I did was to reverse the handle on the storm door so that the keyed portion faced inwards. (People approaching thought we were all crazy.)
I was able to do this myself and save money. But on the assumption that you hire a handyman, there is a general rule of thumb. The quicker you need a job completed, the more expensive you can expect it to be. Part of the reason is simply that you lack the time to shop around. Another part is that you may have to pay someone extra to fit your job into his or her schedule. It’s usually better to plan ahead, and have the work performed in advance, without the added time pressures – and the correlative price increases.
The Late-Stage ‘Paradox’
Once a person enters into advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, however, the need for comprehensive Alzheimer’s proofing may actually decrease. Largely, this is because late-stage Alzheimer’s patients generally lose locomotive abilities, making it less likely that they will be physically able to leave a restricted area without assistance. You may therefore find yourself being able to remove, reverse, or otherwise undo some of your previous home modifications.
You might begin taking down reminder cards, for example. Or you might find yourself removing microwave and refrigerator locks – for two reasons.
Firstly, during advanced stages, your Alzheimer’s-afflicted relative probably (and in a way unfortunately) will be unable to access these appliances (and much else besides). Therefore, the need to secure the appliances is greatly reduced or eliminated.
Secondly, your ability to access and use these appliances is obviously hindered by leaving the locking mechanisms in place. While there is significant risk to your impaired loved one, this inconvenience is a fair tradeoff. However, once grandma or dad is wheelchair bound or other non-ambulatory/stationary, the cost of leaving the appliances locked is likely to outweigh the benefits.