Coping With Seniors Who Wander

Is your loved one a wanderer? If you live with someone who suffers from Alzheimer’s then chances are your loved one has wandered at some point. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that over 60 percent of Alzheimer’s patients are wanderers.

Why wander? There are numerous reasons why people who suffer from Alzheimer’s wander. Some include:

• Searching for something, such as the bathroom or kitchen
• Reliving the past by attempting to go to work or fulfilling some other former routine
• Escaping from something, such as stress, anxiety, pain or over stimulation

One nursing home in Germany has come up with a creative approach to dealing with seniors that wander.  They have installed at fake bus stop right outside the front entrance.  The theory is that a wandering senior will recognize the bus stop, stop walking and wait there for a bus to take them home.  The approach has been so effective that other nursing facilities in Germany have adopted the idea.  Since erecting a fake bus stop outside your home might not be a practical thing for you to do, here are some things you can do to curb wandering:    

• Do not leave the person home alone.
• Watch for potential triggers such as hunger or thirst and address those needs.
• Encourage physical activity to curb restlessness and promote better sleep.
• Provide visual cues to help remind them where they are, even inside their own home.
• If your loved one wanders at the same time everyday plan an activity at that hour
• Secure exit doors.
• Camouflage doors or doorknobs with paint or wallpaper that matches the surrounding walls.
• Place curtains over doors.
• Place a mirror on the door.
• Place large signs on exits that say "Stop” or "Do Not Enter."

Some things you could do to make things safer for your wandering loved one could include:

• Remove any tripping hazards (throw rugs, extension cords etc.).
• Install night lights for night time wanderers.
• Put up gates at stairwells.
• Provide a safe place to wander.
• Place pressure sensitive alarm mats at the door.
• Warning bells on doors.
• Use a GPS device.
• Remove locks on bathroom and bedroom doors.
• Use appliances with an auto shut off feature.
• Install a hidden gas valve or circuit breaker on the stove, or remove the knobs from the burner.
• Discard toxic plants.
• Secure power tools, knives and firearms.
• Secure prescription drugs, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs.

Finding your wanderer:

Even by taking all of these precautions your loved one may still find a way to wander and get lost.  It's a good idea to enroll in a program that will help locate your loved one if they go missing.  Two such programs are:

• MedicAlert+Safe Return
• Project Lifesaver International (which uses a wristband that emits a tracking signal) 

Caring for someone with Alzheimer's is a difficult and sometimes frustrating task.  By planning ahead you can make your environment as safe as possible for your loved one.