One of the biggest concerns of family caregivers who take care of relatives with dementia is how to prevent wandering. There are many things that family caregivers can do to minimize the danger of wandering in their elderly relatives that struggle with dementia.

Why do Seniors with Dementia Wander?

When an elderly person wanders, they leave the safe space of their home and go outside without the supervision of family members or senior care providers. Wandering is more than aimless walking when it comes to seniors with dementia. Most of the time they have a clear purpose in their mind and are determined to reach their destination. The problem is they don’t know where they really are and can become endangered on busy roads, crowded shopping areas, remote roads, and even intrude on private residences.

At its core, wandering is a way for an aging adult to deal with high anxiety. The desire to do something about their anxious thoughts is so overwhelming that many seniors act in the only way they know how. They don’t understand explanations from family members and senior care providers about what’s really happening.

How to Prevent Wandering in Seniors with Dementia.

Family caregivers with the best of intentions and the most diligent care may have a hard time keeping a wandering senior from heading outside. To reduce the likelihood of wandering, family caregivers can take several steps to keep their loved one safe.

1. Never leave the aging adult home alone. Arrange for family members, friends or senior care providers to be present.
2. Secure doors by installing locks high up on the door frame of doors that lead outside. Similarly, there are numerous devices for doors that can help discourage seniors.
3. Install alerts on exterior doors that make a noise when they are opened. These can range from sensors to bells on the doorknob.
4. Consider radio tracking devices where the elderly person wears a bracelet that sends signals to a monitor that the family caregiver or home care provider can monitor.
5. Ask neighbors to call a family member’s phone or that of the senior care provider if they notice the elderly person out by themselves.
6. Keep the elderly person busy and distracted with activities, entertainment, and light household duties to prevent the anxiety that leads to wandering.
7. Redirect the senior’s desire to get out and have family members of senior care providers take them for a drive, or a walk around the block.
8. Include easy-to-spot identification on the senior’s clothes or body. This could include notes in pockets or purses with the family caregiver’s contact information, temporary tattoos, and patches stitched onto clothing. If someone is wandering, they can be identified and helped more quickly.

It’s a real challenge to provide care for an elderly relative with dementia. Even the most dedicated family caregivers can lose track of a determined senior. By putting appropriate controls in place and working with other family members, friends, and senior care providers, they can do a lot to minimize the danger of wandering in seniors with dementia.

The staff at Home Care Matters is available to talk with you and your family about all of your needs. Home Care Matters is a home care agency providing quality and affordable senior care in Braselton, GA and the surrounding areas. Call (678) 828-2195 for more information.

Source:

https://www.alz.org/care/alzheimers-dementia-wandering.asp

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Valerie Darling

Founder, Owner at Home Care Matters

Valerie was born in Miami, FL and after a few family moves, grew up locally in the Marietta, GA area.Valerie is the oldest of 4 (3 younger brothers).She is married and has one child.Valerie is the Founder, Owner and CEO of Home Care Matters.Valerie’s mom, Dee, is the inspiration and primary driver as the how and why the business was born.Valerie says, “My mom is never far from our thoughts.Mom was an integral part of developing and starting HCM before she passed away.Our goal is to stay true to her memory and continue to honor her with the love, values, and ethics she taught us.”

Valerie has the unique experience with home care as she has experienced it from both ends of the spectrum, as a caregiver and as needing care herself as a cancer survivor. Valerie says, “Taking care of someone you love is a physically, mentally and demanding labor of love.Taking care of my mom was the hardest thing I have ever done. It has given me an insight and perspective not many people understand unless you are doing it or have done it.I loved taking care of my mom.I love helping others take care of their love ones too.And now that I’ve been sick, it’s given me a whole new level of empathy and understanding for those who are sick and need help.”

Valerie’s schedule varies daily, but she loves visiting with our clients, families, caregivers, our network partners and being in the office.Says Valerie, “Every day is different, but I wake up excited about what we do, inspired by our team, clients and caregivers.I strive to be a resource to the community.I love my team and I love what we do every day. I like to think my mom would be proud.”

You can reach Valerie by email (Valerie@homecarematters.com) or in our office (770.965.4004).

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