Lost Eye Glasses

[km7100]

Any ideas on how to keep a dementia resident from misplacing their glasses EVERY DAY? We've tried labeling them, but that doesn't help us much in trying to find them when they are missing. We've also tried a glass tether, but he just removed it from the glasses... We're stumped.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

Explain to his s/o's that he has "lost his trappings" which is an inevitable phase of the disease. He does not recognize that they are eye glasses, he no longer knows what eyeglasses are for and he can not recognize that he wears them.Once the s/o's understand that then you can put away the eyeglasses (dentures etc)

[morte, LPN, LVN]

Explain to his s/o's that he has "lost his trappings" which is an inevitable phase of the disease. He does not recognize that they are eye glasses, he no longer knows what eyeglasses are for and he can not recognize that he wears them.Once the s/o's understand that then you can put away the eyeglasses (dentures etc)

if you dont think he has quite gotten to this point however.....perhaps he needs an updated lens....

[debRN0417]

If the resident is constantly "loosing" the glasses, then what is the point? If the resident really needed them to see then they would leave them alone. Think about little children who at only months of age must have glasses. They need them to see, therefore they leave them alone. A demented person may no longer realize that the glasses are helping and are seeing enough to manage. because who knows really what they are understanding about their environment. They are usually not reading anymore, and are not usually able to focus on the TV. As morte said, they could also need an updated exam and glasses. Have a meeting with the RP and see what they think. Involving them in the delimma may help resolve the issue.

[nckdl]

HaHa I have to laugh because on a weekly basis I'm always looking for something, may it be glasses, teeth, hearing aids, canes, jewelry. Now for some, we nurses and aides have to actually sign off in our books that we took whatever and locked it up at night and then give it back in a.m. But this doesn't help when they throw their teeth away after lunchtime huh! Make it known to family right away that this is part of the process sometimes and you will do your best to keep track of the item, but don't promise anything.