Wandering caused by Alzheimer's and other dementias
Wandering can pose a major problem for the caregiver and can be dangerous for a person with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia.
Get a medical ID bracelet for the person so that you can be contacted if he or she wanders away.
- Try to figure out why the person wanders. He or she may be trying to find something specific or looking for a familiar object. A person who wanders at a certain time of day may always have taken a walk or gone to work at that time.
- Lock outside doors, and use alarms and other devices to alert you when the person wanders outdoors or into unsafe areas.
- Provide a safe place for wandering, such as an enclosed yard or garden.
| Author: | Sabra L. Katz-Wise Ralph Poore | Last Updated: November 15, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Peter J. Whitehouse, MD - Neurology | |
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