The symptoms of dementia can sometimes lead to unsafe situations. Areas of special concern include driving and wandering away from home. You may also need to make changes in the person's living space. Doing so can help protect the person even when you aren't around.

Driving is often not safe for a person with dementia. It may even be illegal. Ask the person's doctor if it's safe for the person to drive. Some rehab centers can assess driving safety. Ask the doctor if such an assessment should be done. If safety is in question, use these tips to prevent the person from getting behind the wheel:

• Limit access to the car. Keep the keys with you, or lock them away.
• Ask an authority figure, such as a doctor or insurance agent, to tell the person not to drive.
• Ask the doctor about contacting the Department of Motor Vehicles.

People with dementia may wander away from the house. They may get lost and confused about their location. They often have a reversed sleep-wake cycle. This means that they can be up all night and wander away when you least expect it. To keep the person safer, try these tips:

• Have the person wear an ID bracelet at all times. You can also enroll them in the Alzheimer's Association's “Safe Return” program.
• Install door chimes so you know when outside doors are being opened.
• Ask neighbors to call you if they see the person out alone.
• Go with the person if they insist on leaving the house. Don't argue or yell. Instead, use distraction or gentle hints to get them to return home.
• Look into web-based monitoring programs or GPS devices that keep track of the person's location.
• If the person is no longer driving, be sure they have no access to car keys. They may forget that they can no longer drive and may wander after getting behind the wheel.

Keep the person safe by simplifying their living space. This means reducing clutter and removing hazards. Consider removing firearms and other weapons from the home or storing them in a locked cabinet. Put night lights and smoke detectors in every room, including the kitchen and bathroom. Keep the batteries fully charged. You may also want to get advice from an occupational therapist (home safety expert). Keep in mind that some changes may not be needed right away. Focus on major safety concerns first.

Here are some suggested safety steps:

• Make sure that carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are installed. Keep fire extinguishers on hand. Have them inspected regularly.
• Post the home address and emergency numbers for police, fire departments, hospitals, and poison control helplines near all phones.
• Install an answering machine or voicemail. This will make sure that important messages aren't missed.
• Reduce tripping hazards. Move electrical and phone cords out of the way. Place colored tape on the edges of steps.
• Keep walkways and rooms well lit. Use night lights in hallways, bedrooms, and bathrooms.
• Consider removing guns or other weapons from the home. Or store them in a locked cabinet.

• Store hair dryers, razors, and curling irons in a secure area.
• Remove poisons, such as drain cleaner and nail polish remover.
• Keep medicines in a secure area, not in the medicine cabinet.
• Remove inside door locks so your loved one doesn't get locked inside.
• Install grab bars in the shower, tub, and toilet to prevent injury.

• Unplug toasters and other appliances when not in use.
• Limit access to alcohol. It can make symptoms much worse.
• Remove or cover knobs on stoves and other appliances.
• Check food for spoilage. The person may not know when food has gone bad.

• Lock up hazardous substances, such as bleach, pesticides, and paint thinners.
• Keep pool or hot tub areas securely closed off.
• Set the hot water heater below 120°F (48.8°C).
• Keep a spare key outside the house in case the person locks you out.

People with dementia may be easy victims for dishonest salespeople or money scams. Try placing a “No Solicitations” sign on the person's front door. Limit access to credit cards and cash.

Early on, people with dementia can often handle daily tasks with little or no help. But at some point, it won't be safe for them to be on their own. The timing for this is different for each person. But problems such as forgetting to eat, bathe, or take medicines, or having financial problems, can all be signs that more supervision is needed. If you have concerns, talk with the person's doctor.