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continued:

Alzheimer's: Understand and control wandering

Keeping your loved one safe

Despite your best efforts, it may be impossible to completely prevent wandering. Consider these techniques to minimize problems related to wandering:

  • Reduce hazards. Remove tripping hazards, such as throw rugs and extension cords. Install night lights to aid nighttime wanderers. Put gates at stairwells to prevent falls.
  • Provide a place to wander safely. If wandering isn't associated with distress or a physical need, you may want to focus simply on providing a safe place for walking or exploration — such as a path through the rooms of your house or a circular trail through a fenced backyard.
  • Install alarms and locks. Various devices can alert you that your loved one is on the move. You might place pressure-sensitive alarm mats at the door or at your loved one's bedside, put warning bells on doors and use childproof covers on doorknobs. If your loved one tends to unlock doors, you might install sliding bolt locks out of your loved one's line of sight.
  • Camouflage doors. To short-circuit a compulsion to wander into off-limits rooms, you might place curtains over doors or camouflage doors with paint or wallpaper that matches the surrounding walls. A mirror or a stop sign on the door might help, too.
  • Use a GPS device. You might consider having your loved one wear a GPS or other tracking device that can send electronic alerts about his or her location. If your loved one wanders, the GPS device can help you find him or her quickly.

Ensuring a safe return

Wanderers who get lost can be difficult to find because they often behave unpredictably. For example, they may not call for help or respond to searchers' calls. Once found, wanderers may not remember their names or where they live.

If you're concerned about your loved one's wandering, inform your neighbors and other close contacts about your loved one's condition. Keep a list of emergency phone numbers handy in case you can't find your loved one. Also consider enrolling in a safe-return program — such as the one provided by the Alzheimer's Association. Participants receive an identification bracelet and access to 24-hour support in case of emergency.

If your loved one is lost, contact local authorities and the safe-return program — if you've enrolled — right away. A search should begin immediately, typically beginning in a five-mile radius of where the person was last seen.

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References
  1. Wandering. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/living_with_alzheimers_wandering_behaviors.asp. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  2. Wandering behavior: Preparing for and preventing it. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/national/documents/topicsheet_wandering.pdf. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  3. Safety center. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/safetycenter/we_can_help_safety_medic_enroll.asp. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  4. Press D, et al. Safety and societal issues related to dementia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 10, 2009.
  5. Smith GE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 12, 2009.
HQ00218 Feb. 18, 2010

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