If your loved one or a client you are caring for has dementia, it is natural to have apprehensions when it comes them wandering. The thought of your loved one escaping in the middle of the night is so scary!
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Six in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once and many do so repeatedly. From my personal experience, I’ve seen wandering happening more frequently in the middle stages of dementia. It’s critical to assess door protection for people living with dementia to avoid such a catastrophic situation.
Once you make an investment in high-quality equipment, you can relax and feel safer knowing that your loved one cannot simply unlock the door and go at will, putting themselves in danger.
As a dementia caregiver, your primary concern is to always protect your loved one. You don’t want them to feel trapped within the four walls, but neither would you want them to wander outdoors.
Below we will discuss different types of door locks available for those living with dementia and we will include a description for each one.
When putting locks on the door for someone living with dementia, it’s important to consider their safety during emergencies such as fires. While securing the door can help prevent wandering and ensure their safety in most situations, it’s crucial to balance their security with the need for quick evacuation in case of an emergency. These types of door locks should only be used when the individual is in the stage of dementia when they are receiving 24/7 caregiving assistance. Speak to the healthcare provider involved to see what option is best for the person living with dementia.
Different Types Of Door Locks Available for Those Who Live With Dementia
Check out the list below for some of the different kinds of door locks on the market, as well as our recommendation for each one that is effective and practical for dementia caregivers.
1. Keyed Entrance Door Knobs
Keyed entrance knobs can be secured or opened using a key on the external knob or a twist lever on the internal knob. In the event of an emergency, this function is provided with an inside emergency exit option.
The lock/key mechanism may be on any side of the doorframe. These knobs are typically seen on entrances with glass windows which someone can break through, climb inside, and open the door.
Such door knobs are often found on external doors; however, they can even be placed on inside doors. They have a deadlatch, which increases the lock’s security. Various security elements, such as security grading, are frequently included with keyed access doorknobs.
Our Pick – Prime-Line Door Knob Lock
This gadget is designed to be installed on top of a doorknob, as the name implies. It’s a portable and detachable gadget. It is not necessary to secure it to the doorknob. When the door is secured, the metal casing prevents the person living with dementia from twisting the knob.
They are often known to leave the house through the backyard. This door knob lock may be used to close the backyard entrance point.
You should turn the key clockwise after enclosing the knob between the housing. The individual with dementia is unable to reach the keyhole because of the casing. Even if they had the door lock’s keys, they could not open them.
This gadget may be used comfortably by family members of people living with dementia to cover the main gate lock from within the house.
This Prime-Line gadget is ideal for those looking for a quick fix to keep their loved ones from leaving the house.
There is no need to make holes in the door for this lock. You don’t have to depend on electronic equipment to keep your loved one safe. This gadget is entirely mechanical in nature.
2. Door Reinforcement Lock
The purpose of a door reinforcement lock is to provide extra security against intruders. Having installed a door reinforcement lock on the main entrance, patio door, and any door that serves as a point of entry to your home will limit or prevent break-in attempts.
Our Pick – Defender Security Door Reinforcement Lock
The Defender Security door reinforcement lock can resist up to 800 pounds of force. This is primarily a security system that must be installed from the inside. It stops criminals from busting the door open while locked from the inside.
Mounting this lock on the outside of the front door can help dementia caretakers. This lock may be installed higher up on the door frame to prevent a kid or visitor from mistakenly unlocking it. Because the lock may be unlocked by merely spinning it away from the door, this is critical.
3. Door Top Lock
For caregivers concerned about their loved ones walking outside, a top lock may be the ideal answer. This clever gadget fits all sorts of interior doors and rests on the upper edge of the door frame. The gliding lock may be activated from both in or out of the door by a family member. The top lock mechanism may be swiftly mounted on the top of the frame, preventing the senior from grasping the latch while allowing caregivers to simply reach up and open the door.
Our Pick – GlideLok Door Top Lock
One of the ideal locks for people living with dementia who wander in the dead of night is the GlideLok door top lock. This gadget is mounted directly to the doorframe. It’s as simple as sliding the GlideLok over the peg to lock or release it.
The doorframe can be locked or unlocked from both sides. You don’t have to be concerned about the person being trapped inside. This gadget was created with children in mind, but it also works well with people living with dementia.
It prevents a senior from leaving their room during the night. The Glidelok is a clever gadget. It’s almost unnoticeable. Your loved one will be completely unaware of its presence. They’ll probably return to sleep after straining to open the door.
4. Door Lever Lock
You can now safeguard a door with an easy to mount door lever lock. It can fit on either side of the door. These kinds of locks can be installed on the inside or outside of the door. A secured door prevents your dementia-affected loved one from wandering outside. You’ll also be able to get a good night’s sleep.
Our Pick-Door Lever Lock By Tuut
Instead of simply one locked arm, the door handle is trapped between two. The person with dementia will be unable to move the doorknob in any way once this gadget is turned on.
A Tutt door lever lock can be installed on the main door if the handle is like the one shown above,
It’s worth noting that door lever locks are rather simple to disable for folks who don’t have any cognitive issues. A person with dementia, on the other hand, will have trouble deactivating it. They’ll almost certainly depart without further examination after a few futile efforts to unlock the door.
This gadget is mostly intended to keep a child from accessing the main door. You’ll be relieved to learn that it serves the same purpose for people living with dementia whose cognitive capacities are deteriorating.
It’s worth noting that because this gadget is entirely mechanical, it won’t warn you if folks tamper with it. It just stays between your loved one and the doorknob.
5. Baby Safety Door Knob Cover
Baby safety door knob covers can enable you to keep the person with dementia out of rooms you don’t want them in. A person with dementia sleepwalking their way into the pantry or garage, for example, can be dangerous. They won’t be able to turn the doorknob using this helpful gadget.
This gadget adds an extra layer of security to a doorknob. The cover prevents the knob from spinning when it is cranked clockwise or anticlockwise. As a result, opening the door is difficult for them.
It should be noted that this item is designed for toddlers. So, whether this works on a person living with dementia or not will depend on the severity of the cognitive deterioration.
Our Pick – Eudemon 4 Pack Door Knob Cover
Baby safety doorknobs, as the name implies, provide much-needed comfort to parents who are struggling to keep children out of particular areas in the house. Interestingly, those with loved ones in the latter stages of dementia can also utilize this gadget for the same purpose.
Keep in mind that this is just a knob cover. Over the knob, it creates a coating. The cover moves smoothly when someone attempts to crank the knob. The knob, on the other hand, doesn’t really move.
Those with dementia have been reported not to apply force to unlock doors. After one or two attempts, they would almost give up. Four baby door knob covers are included in the box. You can protect the entire home with a single pack.
Closing Thoughts
Implementing extra security precautions involves doing all in your power to keep your seniors secure. If your loved one tries to go around accidentally, the door locks can alert you instantly.
For safety concerns, you might wish to buy a few of these items to use all around the house. You could enjoy a better night’s sleep once you’ve decided to invest in the additional door locking alternatives since you won’t have to worry as much!
