Why Wandering About Happens in Dementia
When someone is living with dementia, they can exhibit signs and symptoms that other people may find hard to understand. For instance, they may seem to ‘wander about’ without purpose, which can be distressing for both them and the people around them. Loved ones often presume that the person is just acting aimlessly without purpose, yet this isn’t necessarily the case.
There are many reasons why the person may be wandering about, these include memory loss, confusion over the time, relieving pain and discomfort, or agitation. It’s always important to try and ‘get into the world’ of someone living with dementia and try and work out why they are acting the way they are. The Alzheimer’s Society says “As the person’s carer, friend or relative, you are likely to know them best. Trust your instincts and try to use your knowledge of the person to understand why they are walking.”
Steps to Take When Wandering About Occurs
Referring to someone walking about as ‘wandering’ can be unhelpful because “it suggests the person is walking with no purpose,” says the Alzheimer’s Society, as “there will often be a reason or belief behind it.” Certain steps should be taken to keep the person safe, such as:
Immediate Safety Measures and Search Tips
If the person has problems with their memory and cannot find their way home, accompanying them may be the best idea, or if they insist on going alone and you have Power of Attorney (PoA), they could use a GPS wristwatch or pendant so you can track their location.
Who to Contact and When to Alert Authorities
If the person goes missing and cannot be located, the police should be notified. Having a recent photo of the person to hand will be useful and save time. Loved ones’ contact numbers should be listed in the care plan, and an emergency protocol should already be in place.
Documenting Incidents for Future Prevention
If the person has a care plan, then it should be updated to reflect their tendency to leave the house. Signing up for the Herbert Protocol may also save precious time when someone goes missing, as the information will be at hand.
Supporting Emotional and Cognitive Needs
Providing support for the physical needs of dementia is extremely important, but so is emotional support. Providing reassurance that the person is safe and with people who care about them may help, as will undertaking activities together that may distract away from their urge to leave the house or wander from room to room.
Providing Reassurance and Reducing Anxiety
The person’s anxiety may be raised if they feel they are not in familiar surroundings, as they may feel unsafe or vulnerable. Reassuring them that they’re protected and showing them that they have comforting items around them may also help to reduce anxiety. If they’ve had to move into supported living, then making sure they know where things are is essential.
Meaningful Engagement to Reduce Restlessness
One of the ways to reduce someone’s restlessness is to distract them from whatever is causing the anxiety. Suggesting activities they enjoy, such as listening to music, watching TV, doing puzzles, or light gardening, may be all it takes to keep the person occupied and prevent the boredom or restlessness that causes wandering.
Ensuring Comfort and Familiarity in Surroundings
By keeping things in the same place in the person’s home, they will be better able to locate items they’re looking for, which will prevent them from opening cupboards endlessly. They will keep looking for things that aren’t where they expect them to be, so make sure things aren’t changed unless they want them to be.
Dementia Care with Helping Hands
Dementia care from Helping Hands gives you all the support you need to continue living in the home you love. We’ve been delivering the highest quality home care since we were established in 1989, with dedicated, knowledgeable carers coming to your home on either a visiting or live-in care basis. Remaining in your home for dementia care is beneficial in so many ways. It means that you stay in familiar surroundings, helping to reduce anxiety and confusion and keeping you around the people and things that mean the most to you. Our condition-led care, delivered by compassionate people who share our ethos for the highest quality at all times, will be tailored to your requirements – we don’t believe in ‘one size fits all’ support. Talk to us today about personalised dementia care in your own home.
