www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2071319/Fake-bus-stop-keeps-Alzheimer%27s-patients-from-wandering-off.html

German nursing homes are using a novel strategy to stop Alzheimer's patients from wandering off: phantom bus stops.

The idea was first tried at Benrath Senior Centre in Düsseldorf, which pitched an exact replica of a standard stop outside, with one small difference: buses do not use it.

The centre had been forced to rely on police to retrieve patients who wanted to return to their often non-existent homes and families.

Then Benrath teamed up with a local care association called the "Old Lions". They went to the Rheinbahn transport network which supplied the bus stop.

"It sounds funny but it helps," said Franz-Josef Goebel, the chairman of the "Old Lions" association. (Pretty close to some else's name, eh?)

"Our members are 84 years old on average. Their short-term memory hardly works, but the long-term memory is still active.

"They know the green and yellow bus sign and remember that waiting there means they will go home."

The result is that errant patients now wait for their trip home at the bus stop, before quickly forgetting why they were there in the first place.

"We will approach them and say that the bus is coming later and invite them in for a coffee," said Richard Neureither, Benrath's director. "Five minutes later they have completely forgotten they wanted to leave."

The idea has proved so successful that it has now been adopted by several other homes across Germany.

If it's stupid, and it works, it's not stupid.

I think an Invisible Fence would be more effective.

Quoted: Clever

Yes

nice. i am glad it works for them. helps the old folks keep some dignity also.

In Japan they have tea kettles which are connected to the phone line. If an elderly person doesn't make tea one morning the kettle will call for someone for come round and check on them

lol

cunning, simple yet effective.

That's thinking outside the bun.

Quoted: nice. i am glad it works for them. helps the old folks keep some dignity also.

Wait til' MilfHunter figures this out.

Good for them.

I don't see how that would work better than shackles on the wrists and ankles.

Quoted: I don't see how that would work better than shackles on the wrists and ankles.

Quoted: In Japan they have tea kettles which are connected to the phone line. If an elderly person doesn't make tea one morning the kettle will call for someone for come round and check on them

"We're the authorities, and we're here because your tea kettle reported that there might be a problem.  Please stand aside while we search".

I know the Japanese don't see much of a problem, but damn...

Quoted: Quoted: In Japan they have tea kettles which are connected to the phone line. If an elderly person doesn't make tea one morning the kettle will call for someone for come round and check on them "We're the authorities, and we're here because your tea kettle reported that there might be a problem.  Please stand aside while we search". I know the Japanese don't see much of a problem, but damn...

I'm having a "Brazil" flashback...

"They know the green and yellow bus sign and remember that waiting there means they will go home."

Here in America, they'd need to make it look like a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis with an AARP sticker on the back bumper...

Quoted: Quoted: In Japan they have tea kettles which are connected to the phone line. If an elderly person doesn't make tea one morning the kettle will call for someone for come round and check on them "We're the authorities, and we're here because your tea kettle reported that there might be a problem.  Please stand aside while we search". I know the Japanese don't see much of a problem, but damn...

Who says it calls the police?  It could just call the family nurse, or hell probably a family member.

Anyone have some Depends I can borrow?

Quoted: "We're the authorities, and we're here because your tea kettle reported that there might be a problem.  Please stand aside while we search".

Negative.  I am a meat popsicle.

Quoted: German nursing homes are using a novel strategy to stop Alzheimer's patients from wandering off: phantom bus stops.

I thought for sure he was going to say they brought the nursing home bus around after the stop filled up, and then drove them around to the front door.  

Quoted: If it's stupid, and it works, it's not stupid.

+1