The use of two-dimensional grid patterns to limit hazardous ambulation in elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

The ambulation of demented patients into potentiafiy dangerous areas or away from areas where they can be monitored is a problem for the care-providers of such patients in psychiatric settings for the elderly. Current methods of controlling patients likely to move into hazardous areas usually involve physical interventions such as restraint, locked ward doors and sometimes medication. Such methods can be costly, counterproductive and take carers away from other tasks. It has been observed that patients with Alzheimer's disease appear to be affected by certain visual stimuli that do not affect the ambulation of non-demented people or staff members. Such visual stimuli can be a simple two-dimensional grid pattern, which patients with Alzheimer's disease tend to perceive as a barrier. This effect is not usually seen in other types of dementia. Capitalising on this observation, black insulation tapes in two different grid configurations were laid out in an attempt to prevent these patients ambulating through exit doors. Ten demented patients with differential diagnoses participated in this study. It was found that the use of a horizontal grid reduced exit door contact up to 97% for four of these patients with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. As had been predicted, the grid was less effective for patients with other types of dementia. Advantages and inherent dangers in this approach to managing hazardous ambulation by Alzheimer's patients are discussed. [ NT Research 1: 2, 217-227]