"Safety Dance", EOA SSSS-AAAA-FFFF...how to keep your spouse safe
Updated: Jul 12
Safety at home and away is a major concern. Have you really looked around your house lately to see the dangers?
At some point, you realize… you’re basically baby-proofing your home all over again.
🔥 Gas Stove
Do you have a gas stove?
You will want to lock down the handles. Stove knobs are easy for a healthy mind—but not for an Alzheimer’s mind.
I used simple knob covers. Cheap, easy, and worth it.
💧 Water Overflow (THIS is huge)
Forgetting to turn off sinks was one of our earliest and most consistent issues.
Easiest fix: If you have pop-up drains, unscrew the top so the sink can’t plug.→ Worst case: you waste water→ Especially in the bathtub, some reason he was putting it down with every shower. Best case: you avoid a flooded house
Other options:
Motion or auto shut-off faucets (great for kitchen)
Under-sink leak detectors (I haven’t installed yet, but highly recommended)
🚪 Exit Awareness (Wandering Prevention)
I added indoor cameras to my existing outdoor system.
I use Blink (watch for Prime Day / Black Friday deals)
Cameras are placed to cover entry/exit points (not private areas)
Goal: know if/when someone leaves the house
I also added a smart garage keypad + camera (still installing).Memory + codes = not a great combo.
📱 Scams (Phone, Email, Social Media)
This one is tough.
What I do:
Check phone/messages a few times a week
Limit banking access
Set credit card alerts (mine notify me for anything over $100)
Lower credit limits where possible
There’s no perfect fix—but monitoring helps.
🚨 Smoke & Carbon Monoxide
Install CO detectors in garage and inside near entry
Especially important if you have gas appliances
🔒 Weapons
Guns, knives, anything that could be misused:
Locked
Removed if needed
Ammunition stored separately
☠️ Poisons
Hide everything.
Cleaning supplies, meds, yard chemicals—anything can be mistaken for something else.
➕ Additional Home Safety Suggestions
🚽 Bathroom Safety
Install grab bars (not suction—actual mounted)
Use anti-slip mats
Consider a shower chair
Set water heater to 120°F max (prevents burns)
💊 Medication Safety
Use locked pill dispensers or timed dispensers
Keep extras out of sight
Track doses (double dosing is common)
🧭 Visual & Cognitive Cues
Label drawers/rooms with words or pictures
Use contrasting colors (helps with depth perception)
Remove rugs that can cause tripping
🚪 Door Safety
Install door alarms or chimes
Consider locks placed higher or lower than “normal”
Use a stop sign or “do not enter” sign on exit doors (surprisingly effective)
🛏 Night Safety
Motion lights in hallway/bathroom
Bed alarms (if wandering at night is an issue)
Keep pathways completely clear
🧊 Kitchen Safety (beyond stove)
Unplug appliances when not in use
Lock up sharp utensils
Consider removing microwave if misuse becomes an issue
🚨 Nighttime Safety: Sleeping With One Eye Open
As Alzheimer's progresses, one of the biggest concerns becomes nighttime wandering.
Not because they're trying to leave.
Because they wake up confused.
They may be looking for the bathroom, a snack, the dog, work, or simply trying to figure out where they are.
A few simple tools can buy you precious seconds and a lot more peace of mind.
These pressure-sensitive pads sit under the mattress or fitted sheet and alert you when your loved one gets out of bed.
Perfect for:
✔ Frequent nighttime wandering
✔ Fall risks
✔ Caregivers who sleep in a separate room
One of my favorite options.
Place them:
Next to the bed
In bedroom doorways
Near garage doors
At exterior exits
When your loved one steps on the mat, an alert is triggered before they get very far.
For active Early Onset Alzheimer's spouses, these often work better than bed alarms because they reduce false alarms from tossing and turning.
Sometimes the real concern isn't getting out of bed.
It's getting outside.
Simple door alarms can alert you if:
Front doors open
Garage doors open
Patio doors open
Especially helpful during sundowning or periods of increased confusion.
Indoor cameras can provide an extra layer of safety and peace of mind.
Many caregivers use them:
In common areas
Near exits
In garages
Not to spy.
To keep their loved one safe.
💡 My Rule
Layer your protection.
One tool is good.
Several tools working together are better.
For us, the ideal combination is:
✔ Medical Bracelet
✔ Cameras
✔ Door Alarms
✔ Floor Mat Alarms
Because Alzheimer's doesn't send a warning before the next stage arrives.
A little preparation today can prevent a big emergency tomorrow.
💬 Caregiver Tip: If you're constantly waking up wondering whether your spouse is still in bed, it may be time to add a monitoring system. Better sleep for you is a safety tool too.
🚗 Car Safety
🎵 “Life is a Highway… but we need guardrails”
This is one of the hardest transitions.
🚫 Driving
At some point, driving is no longer safe. The biggest thing is with a DX of Alzheimers on file, you will always be liable because an attorney will pull medicall records and blame a sudden stop and rear end on YOUR driver with a DX diseased. I explained that to hubby, he agreed wasn't worth the risk, and he gladly rides "passenger prince" now.
(There is a few posts on this, "Jesus take the wheel" is one.
Signs:
Getting lost on familiar routes
Slower reaction time
Poor judgment
Options:
Disable the car
Hide keys
Use a “mechanical issue” explanation if needed (less confrontational)
🔑 If They Still Ride With You
Always lock doors (child safety locks if needed)
Consider GPS trackers (Apple AirTag, etc.)
Keep ID on them at all times
📍 Emergency Info
Phone lock screen with emergency contact info
⛽ Gas Stations / Stops
Never leave them unattended
Even a quick “run inside” can turn into wandering
Don't let them pump without you (diesel in gas no fun for most cars)
💬 Disclaimer
I’m not a medical professional—just a caregiver sharing our personal journey with Early Onset Alzheimer’s. Every situation is different, so please use what works for your family and consult medical, legal, or mental health professionals when needed.
This blog combines my real-life experiences with research, shared caregiver insight, and AI-assisted editing to help organize information and make these difficult topics easier to read and navigate. We’re all just trying to survive and help each other through it.
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