Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Concept Of Missing Incidents In Persons With Dementia, Meredeth Rowe, Amy M. Houston, Victor A. Molinari, Tatjana Bulat, Mary E. Bowen, Heather Spring, Sandra Mutolo, Barbara Mckenzie

Nursing Faculty Publications

Behavioral symptoms of dementia often present the greatest challenge for informal caregivers. One behavior, that is a constant concern for caregivers, is the person with dementia leaving a designated area such that their whereabouts become unknown to the caregiver or a missing incident. Based on an extensive literature review and published findings of their own research, members of the International Consortium on Wandering and Missing Incidents constructed a preliminary missing incidents model. Examining the evidence base, specific factors within each category of the model were further described, reviewed and modified until consensus was reached regarding the final model. The model …

Missing Drivers With Dementia: Antecedents And Recovery, Meredeth Rowe, Catherine Greenblum, Marie Boltz, James E. Galvin

Nursing Faculty Publications

Objectives: To determine the circumstances under which persons with dementia become lost while driving, how missing drivers are found, and how Silver Alert notifications are instrumental in those discoveries.

Design: A retrospective, descriptive study.

Setting: Retrospective record review.

Participants: Conducted using 156 records from the Florida Silver Alert program for October 2008 through May 2010. These alerts were issued in Florida for missing drivers with dementia.

Measurements: Information derived from the reports on characteristics of the missing driver, antecedents to missing event, and discovery of a missing driver.

Results: The majority of missing drivers were men aged 58 to 94 …

Persons With Dementia Missing In The Community: Is It Wandering Or Something Unique?, Meredeth Rowe, Sydney S. Vandeveer, Catherine Greenblum, Cassandra N. List, Rachael M. Fernandez, Natalie E. Mixson, Hyo C. Ahn

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: At some point in the disease process many persons with dementia (PWD) will have a missing incident and be unable to safely return to their care setting. In previous research studies, researchers have begun to question whether this phenomenon should continue to be called wandering since the antecedents and characteristics of a missing incident are dissimilar to accepted definitions of wandering in dementia. The purpose of this study was to confirm previous findings regarding the antecedents and characteristics of missing incidents, understand the differences between those found dead and alive, and compare the characteristics of a missing incident to …

Reducing Dangerous Nighttime Events In Persons With Dementia Using A Nighttime Monitoring System, Meredeth A. Rowe, Annette Kelly, Claydell Horne, Steve Lane, Judy Campbell, Brandy Lehman, Chad Phipps, Meredith Keller, Andrea Pe Benito

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Nighttime activity, a common occurrence in persons with dementia, increases the risk for injury and unattended home exits, and impairs the sleep patterns of caregivers. Technology is needed that will alert caregivers of nighttime activity in persons with dementia to help prevent injuries and unattended exits. Methods: As part of a product development grant, a randomized pilot study was conducted to test the effectiveness of a new night monitoring system designed for informal caregivers to use in the home. Data from 53 subjects were collected at 9 points in time over a 12-month period regarding injuries and unattended home …