Safety review at Dumfries care home after dementia sufferer wanders off
The owners of a care home in Dumfries and Galloway have pledged to conduct a full safety and care training review after a resident with dementia wandered off last weekend without care staff noticing.
The incident at the Munches Park Care Home in Dalbeattie occurred last Saturday (5th March), when a woman reported to be in her seventies and with dementia left without anyone realising. Less than half an hour later, she was spotted walking down a road by member of the public, who immediately called staff at the Barhill Road home. The well-meaning passer-by described what happened, saying:
“I passed by her and she looked very confused.
She wasn’t wearing a coat, just a thin cardigan and was on the road towards Dumfries.
That poor woman must have been out on her own for 20 minutes and could’ve caused a major accident.”
Acknowledging the seriousness of the incident, the manager of Munches Park, Carol McMurdo, pledged to conduct a full safety review and risk assessment at the home. She also highlighted the importance of proper dementia awareness training for care staff, saying:
“Wandering is a common symptom of dementia. We try to facilitate residents wishes to remain medication-free and keep their independence for as long as possible, whilst maintaining their safety and security.”