I like to wander through the grocery store, the mall or a park sometimes. It's wonderful to not have a destination while enjoying the day. When I wander, I don't have a particular destination or task to accomplish. But wandering can be a serious issue for those with Alzheimer's disease or dementia with 60% of those suffering it will wander, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Their wandering, although it is much the same as mine with no destination, can be dangerous, as he or she may not be paying attention to traffic, traffic signals, and more importantly, does not know where they are. On top of that dilemma, the family and friends of the loved one do not know where they are, leading to much anxiety.
What has happened with a person with dementia or even Alzheimer's is that their brain has shrunk. He or she is not able to complete tasks that they were once familiar with, nor are they able to be in the present day. Sometimes, the individual with one of these conditions, especially if they are aging in place at their home before the disease began, will think that they are doing something or going somewhere where they went repeatedly for many years, such as to a school, recreation, a place of business or shopping. The woman may think she is going to pick up her children at school or a man thinks he is going to work or to go play golf. They leave the house with a specific destination in the past, and once they've left the house, no longer know why they did. This is defined as wandering by one with dementia. There are things that can be done around a house to prevent or discourage wandering, and here are a few:
‧ Make sure the individual with dementia or Alzheimer's disease gets at least 30-40 minutes of exercise per day. Because he or she is often kept inside most of the day, the individual may need to get in some body movement to feel comfortable. Assign a specific task every day, such as making beds, helping to fold laundry, clean the kitchen or even vacuuming can help. Gardening, a daily walk, or even doing an exercise video together can get the cardiovascular system going and also aid in rest at night.
‧ Unless the person is frightened when seeing themselves in the mirror, post a mirror on or by the door.
‧ Keep the doors locked with a key that is hidden from them. Often an individual with Alzheimer's or dementia will try to get out during the night while you are sleeping. Of course, make sure you are always aware of where the key is kept, and keep an extra on your key ring, should an emergency occur and you need to get out immediately.
‧ Install a monitoring system such as found at At Guardian Angel with an alarm system to alert you when a door or window is opened.
‧ Provide the person with a personal GPS tracking device that they wear on their belt, on a lanyard or in their pocket to track where they are at all times should they happen to leave without telling you or when you are sleeping. Some of the devices, such as LifeTracR MobileProtector? found at http://www.pleasefindmom.com, even have one button dialing and emergency calls may be made. Make it a necessary part of getting ready in the morning, and slip it into their robe or jacket pocket if they are hesitant to keep it on around their neck or hooked on a belt.
While wandering of an Alzheimer's disease or dementia is a scary consideration, prevention and tracking are available to help give peace of mind.
Alzheimer's disease affects 5.3 million Americans and is the "defining disease of the baby boomers" according to the Alzheimer's Association. For a free weekly newsletter that addresses Alzheimer's, dementia, caregiving and aging itself, go to http://www.issueswithalzheimers.com/ to register.
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