Wayward Alzheimer's patients foiled by fake bus stop

Daily Telegraph ^ | June 3rd 2010 | Harry de Quetteville

[Cardhu]

A German nursing home has come up with a novel idea to stop Alzheimer's patients from wandering off: a phantom bus stop.

The idea emerged after the centre was forced to rely on police to retrieve patients who wanted to return to their homes and families but had forgotten that in many cases neither existed any longer.

"If we can’t find them then we have to alert the police,” said Benrath's director Richard Neureither. “It can be particularly dangerous if this happens in winter and they spend the night out in the cold.”

Without powers to detain patients, he said, Benrath had been forced to look for other solutions.

“We cannot and must not run after people and lock them up,” said Mr Neureither, Instead, Benrath home teamed up with local care association called the 'Old Lions'. They went to the Rheinbahn transport network which was happy to provide the bus stop to nowhere.

[Cardhu]

“We will approach them and say that the bus is coming later today and invite them in to the home for a coffee,” said Mr Neureither. “Five minutes later they have completely forgotten they wanted to leave.”

[agere_contra]

That’s clever and kind of sweet.

[agere_contra]

Don’t tell Congress about the idea of a “bus-stop to nowhere”. Spending is too high as it is.

[WOBBLY BOB]

maybe get this guy to drive...

“Phony Bus Driver Crashes Real Bus”

http://www.popfi.com/2010/07/12/phony-bus-driver-crashes-real-bus/

[cripplecreek]

Couldn’t they just put sticky strips on the floor like those rat traps?

[kbennkc]

You can find me waiting for the Country Kitchen Buffet to open up.

[MuttTheHoople]

Just tell some old German Panzergrenadier that he’s at the right train stop for the Russian Front, then see the relief on his face when he’s told he has Home Defense duty.

[skr]

...patients who wanted to return to their homes and families but had forgotten that in many cases neither existed any longer.

Heart-rending

[MuttTheHoople]

Just tell some old German Panzergrenadier that he’s at the right train stop for the Russian Front, then see the relief on his face when he’s told he has Home Defense duty.....

...at the Nursing Home and doesn't have to make the trip after all.

[Domangart]

We design a round hall and they walk in circles. The cops can bring them back if they escape. While you and I can sign ourselves out of treatment, they can never do that. They are a class of wards of the state.

[FrdmLvr]

Completely agree with you. Fantastic solution.

[LucyJo]

That’s using your noggin, and your heart as well.

[BfloGuy]

It wouldn't work here.

No one rides the bus.

[Eagles6]

About 10-15 yrs ago a patient walked away from a mental hospital in the Pittsburgh,PA area. Went to the bus stop, boarded and said he wanted to go to California. Well, that's where he ended up, California, PA that is. A local college town on the Monongahela River.

I guess he looked at the Mon river and decided that the Pacific Ocean ain't all that and decided to return to Mayview.

He sat on the bench at the bus stop all night across from the donut shop/ gas station before the local LEOs "discovered" him at 7 am.

[goat granny]

Sounds like that is where I am heading...my son in law wants me to wear a necklace with a telephone # and their address for when I am found wandering around....He is my favorite son in law..

[Eagles6]

Just make sure that it’s his address and phone number on the necklace!