{"id":12838,"date":"2022-05-19T19:54:03","date_gmt":"2022-05-19T23:54:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/neurology\/?page_id=12838"},"modified":"2022-05-19T20:20:05","modified_gmt":"2022-05-20T00:20:05","slug":"safety-considerations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/neurology\/divisions\/memory-and-cognitive-disorders-1\/family-concerns-1\/safety-considerations\/","title":{"rendered":"Safety Considerations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dementia can affect areas of the brain which normally work to keep us safe; areas that provide us with reasoning and judgment and keep us from being impulsive.<\/p>\n

Because of these brain changes, we must protect our loved ones through changes in our home environment. To determine what needs to be changed, you can ask yourself, \u201cCould they get hurt in this situation if they do not have good reasoning skills?\u201d or \u201cCan our home be damaged if this occurs?\u201d<\/p>\n

If safety is a concern, it is best to take steps now to ensure the safety of you and your loved one.<\/p>\n

There are some simple things you can do such as putting certain items out of sight to help prevent an unwanted behavior since many persons with dementia (PWD) may use an item if they see it. For example, car keys hanging next to a door may prompt a PWD to drive. It is best to place the keys out of sight or remove the car from the premises entirely if it should not be driven.<\/p>\n

Some additional safety measures you may want to consider include:<\/p>\n