Evidence-based guidance for families navigating dementia care — home safety, wandering, daily routines, and when to get help.
By Simon Peter Lokomo, MPH — Public HealthLast reviewed: July 2026 Are Bed Rails Safe for the Elderly? Not for most older adults, and especially not for anyone with dementia. Bed rails have never been shown to reliably prevent falls, and they carry a documented risk of death. Federal regulators recorded 284 entrapment deaths from…
By Simon Peter Lokomo, MPH — Public HealthLast reviewed: July 2026 Sundowning is the pattern of increased confusion, agitation, or anxiety that appears in the late afternoon and evening in people with dementia. It happens mainly because dementia damages the brain’s internal clock, and it’s made worse by end-of-day tiredness, low light, and unmet needs…
By Simon Peter Lokomo, MPH — Public HealthLast reviewed: July 2026 A dementia diagnosis by itself doesn’t mean someone must stop driving that day. In early stages, many people still drive safely for a time, and clinical guidelines reflect that. What matters is observed ability, not the label. The person should stop when specific warning…
By Simon Peter Lokomo, MPH — Public HealthLast reviewed: July 2026 No, and any product promising otherwise is overselling. What they actually do is narrower and still valuable: a door alarm tells you the moment someone leaves, and a GPS tracker gives searchers a place to start instead of a blank map. Researchers who’ve reviewed…
Start with the three biggest risks: wandering, the kitchen, and falls. The single most effective step isn’t a gadget — it’s a home visit from an occupational therapist. A calm, evidence-honest guide for caregivers.