| If someone with Alzheimer's wanders, first | | | | Consider childproof locks for dangerous doors. |
| consider the causes | | | | Doors leading to stairways or the outdoors are |
| "Wandering," which includes pacing restlessly in a | | | | the most problematic. Try plastic pinch-grip style |
| room, meandering aimlessly through the house, or | | | | doorknob covers, which can be hard for an older |
| wandering away from home or from companions | | | | person to open. Block sliding glass doors. |
| in a public place, is no small hazard: People with | | | | Try new locks. Any kind of door lock that's |
| Alzheimer's have been known to wander away | | | | different from what the person always used, |
| from homes or nursing facilities and been found | | | | especially if it's a bit challenging, such as a high |
| very ill or even dead from stress, lack of proper | | | | chain lock or a key lock for a door that once had |
| medication, or exposure to the elements. | | | | a button lock, might work because it's difficult for |
| The first step to ensuring a patient's safety is to | | | | her to learn new things. |
| think about what might prompt the wandering. | | | | Try a "Do Not Enter" sign on an exit door. Some |
| Look for the trigger | | | | people are deterred by this simple measure. |
| If the behavior is new, determine if there have | | | | Try safety tools |
| been any big changes in her life. A recent move | | | | Look into alarms that signal movement. Bed pads |
| or change of caregiver can be stressful, for | | | | or chair pads with wireless remote alarms aren't |
| example, and frustration and anxiety can cause | | | | inexpensive, but they offer an immediate alert |
| wandering. Take extra measures to calm her in | | | | that a wanderer is getting up. Other devices |
| stressful times, such as going on fewer outings | | | | include floor mats with remote alarms, motion |
| and following a steady routine. A new medication | | | | detectors that go off only on a portable receiver |
| could be causing agitation as a side effect; | | | | the caregiver can carry around, and conventional |
| mention the wandering to the prescribing doctor. | | | | door chimes that sound when a door is opened |
| Look for a pattern in wandering episodes. If it | | | | and are installed by an electrician. |
| always happens at night, for example, it could | | | | Disguise dangerous doorways. A gentler |
| indicate fear or loneliness and she may need extra | | | | alternative to door locks is to lead the person |
| support after dark. If it's at mealtimes, she may | | | | away from certain doors with visual cues that |
| be hungry or thirsty and unable to follow through | | | | convey that the door is something else. |
| on these desires. Some people wander at specific | | | | Camouflage possibilities include painting the door to |
| times linked to activities from their previous work | | | | match a surrounding wall or hanging posters, |
| life or other former routines. | | | | mirrors, or murals on the door that are especially |
| Assess whether your friend or relative is busy | | | | designed to make it look like a bookshelf or |
| enough. Sheer boredom is a common cause of | | | | pantry shelf. |
| wandering. She should ideally have access to a | | | | Enlist the help of others |
| variety of activities (sorting laundry or blocks, | | | | Tell immediate neighbors about the person's |
| making art or crafts, watching calm nature-type | | | | Alzheimer's. Ask them to call you if, say, she |
| videos, and talking). It's also good to provide | | | | uncharacteristically comes over to visit or is seen |
| some time out of doors with a companion and | | | | walking alone. |
| some interaction with other people. | | | | Use daycare and professional help. If someone |
| Reduce temptations and stressors | | | | with Alzheimer's begins leaving home when she |
| Keep keys out of sight. A friend or relative who | | | | wanders, she should no longer be left alone even |
| has Alzheimer's that's severe enough to include | | | | for short periods. Take advantage of adult |
| wandering shouldn't be driving. But she may still | | | | daycare programs or a relief caregiver when you |
| recognize keys left hanging in a familiar place and | | | | must go out, if you're the primary caregiver. |
| drive off -- even if you don't think she has | | | | Be prepared |
| memories of driving or still knows how. | | | | Enroll her in the Safe Return program. This |
| Avoid crowds. Crowded situations can produce | | | | Alzheimer's Association-sponsored program is |
| stress that leads to wandering once she's back at | | | | designed to provide help if a person with |
| home. And from a practical standpoint, it's hard to | | | | dementia wanders away. An enrolled person's |
| keep track of someone who wanders when | | | | identification information is immediately given to |
| you're in a shopping mall, fair, or other large public | | | | local law enforcement. The enrollee also receives |
| gathering. | | | | an identification bracelet and clothing labels, which |
| Don't let a wanderer go out alone. Even if the | | | | bear the 800 number of the program's help line. |
| person you're caring for is a longtime walker, she | | | | Anyone who finds the person wandering can call |
| shouldn't venture out on her own. She could | | | | the number. |
| become confused and lose her way home or | | | | Consider identification. Even if you don't register in |
| meander away from her usual turf. | | | | a Safe Return program, having identification on |
| Don't leave her in the car. If you leave someone | | | | the person that gives her name, disease, and a |
| prone to wandering alone in the car while you're | | | | contact number is useful. Many options resemble |
| running a quick errand in the bank or drugstore, | | | | regular jewelry. |
| she's liable to become frightened or worried and | | | | Keep track of clothes. If your friend or relative is |
| slip out of the vehicle. | | | | a chronic wanderer, some caregivers recommend |
| Make the house safer for walking. If you haven't | | | | making sure she's always dressed in bright colors. |
| done so already, remove throw rugs, arrange | | | | That way, if she does slip away she can be more |
| furniture so the person has clear pathways to | | | | easily identified and found. The caregiver should |
| move through, and eliminate clutter and | | | | keep track of what she's wearing each day. |
| low-to-the-ground hazards such as magazine | | | | Keep a recent photo handy. It's common to avoid |
| racks or plants. | | | | photographing an older person who appears |
| Install nightlights. Illuminate preferred safe paths, | | | | greatly changed because of the disease. But an |
| especially in hallways and rooms that are used | | | | up-to-date shot will help searchers identify her if |
| most. | | | | she's ever lost. |