Wandering: Addressing a Problem for People With Alzheimer's Disease
Wandering: A Major Problem in People With Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating disorder that robs victims of their memory, and cognitive abilities. As it progresses, people with Alzheimer’s may become increasingly disoriented to time and place. As a result, wandering is a dangerous problem for many Alzheimer’s sufferers (and those who take care of them). Wandering is a potentially life-threatening and frightening behavior. Memory loss, sleep disturbance, and erosion of language may contribute to wandering. Other factors may include restlessness, stress, and medication side effects.
What Can Be Done for Wanderers?
The US Department of Justice partnered with the National Alzheimer’s Association to create Safe Return. This is an identification program that unites Alzheimer’s disease wanderers with their loved ones. For a fee, families can register a patient with Alzheimer’s. The patient’s name, photo, identifying characteristics, and emergency contacts are placed in a database. The patients wear an accessory—a pin, necklace, or bracelet—indicating that they are memory impaired. Then, if the patient is found wandering, a call can be placed to the 24-hour toll-free hotline listed on the Safe Return accessory. Local law enforcement agencies can then use this information to return the wanderers to their homes.
Preventing Wandering
Wandering is a serious problem for Alzheimer’s patients and their caretakers. There are a few simple measures that caretakers can follow, however, to help prevent wandering:
- Conceal or camouflage doors.
- Install locks, alarm systems, and wandering monitoring devices.
- Label doors to explain the purpose of each room and to discourage exit/entry. Use warning signs or symbols that say "Do Not Enter" or "No!"
- Try to identify when the patient is likely to wander and distract him or her with another activity at that time.
- Encourage activity that will relieve the patient’s anxiety.
- Reassure the patient that he or she is in the right place.
RESOURCES:
Federal Aviation Administration: Satellite Navigation
http://gps.faa.gov
National Alzheimer’s Association
http://www.alz.org
National Institute on Aging
http://www.nia.nih.gov/
University of Rochester
http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/kautz/ac/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Alzheimer Society Canada
http://www.alzheimer.ca/
Public Health Agency of Canada
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca
References
Alzheimer's Association. 2006 National Public Policy Program. Alzheimer's Association website. Available at: http://www.alz.org/advocacy/2006program/5a.asp. Accessed March 17, 2008.
Alzheimer's Association. Safety center. Alzheimer's Association website. Available at: http://www.alz.org/safetycenter/we_can_help_safety_medicalert_safereturn.asp. Updated August 21, 2007. Accessed March 24, 2010.
Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center. Managing problem behaviors in long-term care facilities. Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center website. Available at: http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/. Accessed March 17, 2008.
Alzheimer Support. Safe return program highlights the dangers of alzheimer's disease and wandering. Alzheimer Support website.Available at: http://www.alzheimersupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/1903/searchtext/wandering. Accessed June 17, 2003.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders. Alzheimer’s disease information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/alzheimersdisease/alzheimersdisease.htm. Accessed March 17, 2008.
Last reviewed March 2010 by Brian Randall, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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