What is If I Need Help?
What is If I Need Help?
By ERIN WILSON, co-founder
There are people who have Autism, toddlers, cognitive disabilities, other special needs or health issues that keep them from being able to state personal information such as name, phone number, address, medications taken, bedtime, favorite clothes, TV shows, books, foods, toys, apps, hobbies, computer programs, where Mom, Dad, and Grandpa work, issues peculiar to that day, the hotel where the family is staying on vacation, behavioral issues, interventions, and treatments.
Many of these people have different caregivers throughout the day that need to be updated to the current situation; therapists that need to know what therapy to use, and need to notate scores or note progress; babysitters that want to know what time to give the child a bath; teachers that need to know what methods work to help teach. Also, many of these people with disabilities wander off from their family or caregiver with no warning. Rescuers need to know who to call, and how to help.
If I Need Help creates a way to put all of this information in one place. So everyone can be on the same page and the person with disabilities can be cared for in the best, safest and most efficient way possible. Clients can use our databases to whatever level they want, from a password-protected secure page for known caregivers to use, to a non-secure page for rescuers, and caregivers who are not well known.
This information is accessed from any computer browser by commonly used methods of entering a webpage address’s into the browser, either by entering the URL manually with the computer keyboard, or by scanning a QR code, both of which will have the same result, to take you to the client’s non-secure homepage. This non-secure page displays all the information, or as little, that a loved one wants someone to know when finding the wearer. There will be a link on this individual’s homepage which will let the user enter the individual’s secure page. This password-protected secure webpage can also be opened without scanning directly from a computer browser for caregivers to use throughout the day. All of this info (secure and non-secure) can be changed at any time, and as often as a subscriber wants in real time.
For the scanning method of website access we have designed a shirt that can have a QR code printed on it. We’ve commissioned Special Needs Artists to create beautiful artwork to put on our shirts, buttons, key chains and other products that have our QR codes on them. These talented Special Needs Artists will be discovered and contracted to contribute original artwork for our products. We are committed to the special needs community and support it through employment opportunities and donations to nonprofits.
People are also able to purchase a shirt without the QR code to support the Artist. As a service, with a subscription people will also be able to download QR codes to print on their own shirts, bathing suits, pajamas, and other clothing.
New products are being added all the time including: iD Cards, Dog Tags, Shoe Tags, Stickers, Pins, Clings etc. Please keep re-checking our website to see our new helpful products
Wandering Prevention
In my research about wandering I came across many great tips that I would like to share.
A person suffering from dementia may get lost during any stage of the disease because they become confused for a period of time.
Here are a few warning signs: returning home later than usual, trying to go to work that is no longer there, doing repetitive movements, being disoriented in familiar places, asking where people are, moving as if performing a chore but not actually doing that, and appearing lost.
Enough all ready about the signs what can be done?
-Try providing a routine, finding the time of day that when the person is most confused and planning an activity that fulfills his/her need to have purpose. Perhaps the person would enjoy a little exercise or chore such as walking the dog.
-The experts say do not correct the person when s/he makes a request to go home when already home, but affirm, instead, that s/he is safe and will be okay for the night. Suggest enjoying where they are.
-Always make sure basic needs are being met, such as eating and using the restroom.
-It is best to stay away from places that are unfamiliar and overwhelming, which can cause confusion.
-Place the door lock out of reach. We use a door lock in which a numeric code has to be entered to exit.
-Paint the front door the same color as the wall to camouflage it. Childproof locks also work. I like the suggestion of placing a dark mat in front of the door to make it appear as if there is a hole in the ground so as to keep said person from approaching.
-Never ever leave a person with dementia home alone.
-Hide the car keys.
-If the person gets up frequently at night to relieve himself or herself, make sure night-lights are installed in the home. Also, restrict the intake of fluids before bed and have the individual use the restroom before turning in.
-If the person wanders, the police may be notified within fifteen minutes. Be sure to say a “vulnerable adult” is missing.
I spend a lot of time observing my son, to try to figure out what is going on in his mind. He is super fast to take off. Now some times I can recognize a very subtle energy change in him before he tries to split. So I position myself between him and the exit whenever these situations come up.
Best of luck to you in discovering these patterns.
Help For Loved Ones Who Wander
The fear of wandering/elopement is very real if you have a loved one who has autism, Alzheimer’s, Down Syndrome, or other cognitive or physical impairments. The CDC determined that 1 in 88 individuals now have autism. Data from the Interactive Autism Network (IAN) states the 49% of children with autism attempt to elope from a safe environment. One third of these who wander are unable to communicate their name, address or phone number. Parents reported that 66% had a close call with traffic and 32% had a close call with drowning. Our intention with QR code iD is to provide help for a person before they enter into a crisis situation.
Alzheimer’s accounts for 31,000 incidents of critical wandering a year, according to researcher Robert Koester. This amount will increase as the Baby Boomers age. At least 60% of people who have dementia will wander. They are disoriented and cannot judge dangerous places and situations. Unfortunately, when a person with Alzheimer’s wanders off, they do not cry out for help, they don’t leave physical clues, they might travel to a former favorite location, and may have a history of wandering.
Qr Code iD alerts people to knowing this person is needing help by having “If I need Help” in large red letters. People who have Autism, dementia, Alzheimer’s, Down Syndrome, or other cognitive or physical condition that hinders their ability to provide personal information can benefit from having a personal code. The person who finds the wanderer can scan the QR code with a smart phone or iPad or manually enter the number associated with the code into the website to obtain the contact information to reunite the person with loved ones. Also, any information that is important during an emergency for the finder to know, such as ways to sooth or medical conditions and how to deal with them, will be provided. This information can be changed in real time by logging into the site. There is a password-protected area in which documents that may be wanted for reference can be stored.
QR Code iD: A Labor Of Love
Creating QR Code iD has been a true labor of love for me. I feel that it will help people to be saved from dangerous situations when they may go wandering off. And it will also serve as a safe place to store important documents that have to be referred to often or at crucial times. This has arisen from my concerns for my son.
The most devastating event of my life was watching my son go through a major regression and subsequently be diagnosed with Autism. When Jay was about two and a half I was concerned by his low level of language, his lack of play with toys (although he was constantly holding them) and that he was not grasping concepts that others could at that age. He was chasing his older sister around in the most adoring way and whenever I sat down there he was on my lap. So we felt very bonded with him and his eye contact was great. At the time I felt he just had a language delay and would soon catch up with his peers. I had gone into kindergarten myself only able to string a couple words together. I had Jay evaluated by a school Speech Therapist. She had him started in Special Ed Pre-School. He was developing slowly and was able to say a sentence spontaneously.
Then around age four and a half, during the hottest Summer I can remember, Jay had a major regression. He lost all speech. I was unable to get him to say “Mom”, “yes” or “no” any more or look at me. He spent most of his time screaming and running from one end of the house to the other to crash into the bed or sofa. He no longer played with his sister and no longer wanted to cuddle. Soon after this development, he was diagnosed by the pediatrician with autism.
An army of therapists and specialists have come and gone in our lives since. I am so thankful for all their help. It has been an emotional roller coaster for the whole family dealing with Jay’s daily behavior. We have had to make many tough decisions about his interventions, in which we have invested most of our time and focus. I have learned to be a fierce advocate, and to be able to give thousands of high fives and still look excited to do so!
Jay is turning eleven this month. He seems to have a lot of joy and enthusiasm in his life, although he remains significantly challenged with language and academics.
