Memory Care Patio Monitoring

The ambulance people had a short discussion among themselves as Margaret was being checked in to the emergency room. They finally wrote down, “Unobserved fall in unsupervised area”. This left the fall and the time in question. We will never know the cause of the fall: stroke, heart fibrillation, tripping and tumbling when stepping onto an unidentified sloping surface, and/or dementia.  

Cruising Solo in Late July

Cutting Across the Lower Path Loop

Upper Loop Foliage Trimmed to Reveal
 the Grass Fall Site Which is Not Visible
at the Base of the Fence at the Far End

 
What we do know is the area was not being monitored like the interior of the building; after more than one assisted living resident became lost, or trapped in a stairwell. The foliage hid the sloped area between the upper figure-eight loop of the walking path and the fence from view from inside and outside the building. This lush third-year growth was also of concern as it was extending into the sidewalk. Two people looking at the foliage found Margaret.

Corrective action came quickly. “Be sure this door stays locked. We don’t want someone to get out there (pause) and get hurt.” Two weeks later the foliage was trimmed back to give an unblocked view of the sloped area in question. I am unaware of any staffing changes or changes in the timing of periodic monitoring of each resident (Margaret was checked on about every 10-20 minutes when using her walker).

My experience in the last two months with an Arlo motion-triggered video clip camera suggests one correction for monitoring the memory care patio area other than having a walking guard stationed there as at a swimming pool. (I am practicing using the Arlo camera so that next spring we can make video clips of monarch caterpillars and anything else we find of interest in the 1.5 acre Provision Living Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary). Cameras must be mounted high enough to see down to the base of the fence. There is little need to add to current monitoring if the sloped area were leveled or restricted.