Assisted Living Frequently Asked Questions » Safety
I’m concerned about my mother’s safety. She doesn’t even remember if she’s turned off the stove or not.
Your mother likely should no longer have access to a stove, then. Or at least not until such time that you determine what is causing her to forget that she's turned it on. Memory loss can sometimes be attributable to medication interactions, illness, infection or it may be due to lack of hydration. You should consider getting her in to see her physician. Frequently, memory issues can be remedied by simple changes in diet or medication.
If a person is in danger of hurting themselves, then action needs to be taken to protect the person. In most cases, you will likely be considering in-home care or a temporary or permanent move to a senior care community.
Arranging for in-home care to prepare meals may buy you some time to get the help you need to find out what may be going on medically with your mother, without the need to make a move that could be much more disruptive to her.
Last update: 2007-05-08 01:09
Author: Tech Support
Revision: 1.0
