Wandering

As the disease progresses, people with dementia may have difficulty remembering how to get to a certain place or where they just came from. Such forgetfulness can become more serious later on if people begin to wander off or get lost.

Reasons for wandering include:

• Boredom
• Excess energy
• To walk off discomfort
• Trying to find something
• Confusion, thinking he or she must get somewhere

Suggestions for Caregivers

• Trying to understand why wandering occurs can help you to come up with appropriate responses, such as going on more walks together with your loved one.
• Be sure that your loved one carries or wears some sort of identification with them at all times. Identification (ID) bracelets or necklaces can be worn easily or information cards can be placed in wallets, purses, or pockets. Identification bracelets for this purpose are available from Safe Return and Project Lifesaver, for example (links in Resources section below). Be sure that any identifier includes your loved one's name, address, your phone number, and information about his or her medical conditions and allergies.
• Consider enrolling your loved one in the Alzheimer's Association Safe Return program or another community program which will assist you in protecting and finding your loved one.
• Consider installing locks on the external doors that are flush to the door frame or that are near its top or bottom. Learning how to use a new lock can be difficult for someone with dementia and may prevent him or her from wandering outside of the house. However, this same lock may also prevent him or her from escaping in an emergency, so consider both the benefits and risks of locks.