How to Address Wandering with Your Loved One

Dementia has numerous side effects, some more life-impacting than others. One side effect that can be extremely dangerous for people living with dementia is wandering. Six in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once, and many of them will do so repeatedly. It might be common, but it’s especially dangerous—causing great stress on caregivers and family members. Heather Glen Senior Living has some background information on wandering, and some suggestions for how to prevent your loved one from getting injured further stressed, or worse.  

Causes of wandering 

According to the Mayo Clinic, wandering is most often triggered by stress and fear. If seniors with dementia are in a new environment—or their memory loss is preventing them from recalling a familiar location—they can often panic. Oversitulation, such as loud noises or crowds, can also result in wandering. Searching for misplaced items, getting sidetracked during a task, or feeling ill-equipped to do something they used to do with ease can cause frustration or confusion, thus causing them to wander. 

Warning signs 

It can be hard to recognize warning signs if you’re not the one constantly caring for your loved one, but there are a few things you can look out for. If your loved one is taking to complete routine activities like a daily walk, they could be getting lost or confused. Another sign to look out for is your loved one having a hard time finding the bathroom, kitchen, or other rooms of the house. Heightened agitation and restlessness are also signs your loved one might wander.  

Ways to prevent it    

With stress and fear being the most common triggers of wandering, it’s best that your loved one’s care plan has a firm schedule. Establishing a daily routine can help reduce the chances of your loved one feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or confused. Light exercise can release endorphins to help relieve stress, so incorporating that into their plan is helpful as well. It’s also important to address the overstimulation factor that can lead to wandering. You can help your loved one avoid this feeling by muting the TV when talking to them, placing volume controls on the radio or TV, and making sure they always have accompaniment when going somewhere with a potential for crowds (grocery store, restaurant, etc.)

Keeping your loved one safe

The fact of the matter is that once an incident with wandering happens, it’s hard to know if or when it will happen again. Both you and your loved one don’t need the stress from uncertainty impacting your lives any more than it already has—which is why a personal care home or memory care home is the best option for them. 

Heather Glen Senior Living is the premier personal care and memory care community in Lehigh Valley. When a resident with dementia arrives, an individual support plan will be developed with the collaborative input of the resident, family, caregivers, and support staff. We provide a homelike environment that is safe and secure, helping to prevent wandering while allowing your loved one to have a feeling of independence. Tailored plans and programming will help alleviate the stress that is a top cause of wandering. 

To learn more about Heather Glen’s memory care community or to schedule a tour with your loved one, contact us online or give us a call at (610) 841-4478.