How to Keep Someone with Dementia from Wandering

About 60 percent of people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease will wander, putting themselves in harm’s way. Anyone who has memory problems is at risk. 

Lee Ferrero got into his car to drive home, finding himself in open farmland several hours later. He had driven two hours past his usual turnoff. 

Ferrero thought he has just “zoned out,” but subsequent testing revealed he was in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease, a form a dementia.

Five years after that car trip, Ferrero was forced to retire as CEO of the Private Industry Council, but he still drove and walked around. 

Ferrero began to write down exactly where he was going, so he could refer to it later. He also wore an ID bracelet with a 24-hour emergency response number.

"I forget things I never used to forget, and I know it's only going to get worse," he told CNN.

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About 60 percent of people with dementia will wander. Anyone who has memory problems and can walk is at risk. 

Signs of wandering in dementia

Early warning signs can include someone who: 

• Returns from a regular walk or drive later than usual
• Tries to fulfill former obligations, such as going to work 
• Tries or wants to "go home," even when they are home 
• Is restless, paces, or makes repetitive movements
• Has difficulty locating familiar places like the bathroom, bedroom, or dining room

They may also ask the whereabouts of friends or family, act as if they are doing a chore or hobby but nothing gets done, and appear lost in a new or changed environment, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

How to prevent wandering

Lowering the chances of wandering include:

• Helping your loved one stick to a routine that provides him or her with structure
• Noting the time of day that wandering is most likely to occur
• Reassuring them that they’re in the right place
• Ensuring basic needs are met
• Avoiding busy places that are confusing and disorienting 

Practical tips include installing locks out of the line of sight (either high or low), camouflaging doors and doorknobs, using devices as simple as a bell to indicate when a window or door is opened, always being with the person with dementia, and keeping car keys out of sight. GPS tracking devices are also available to help you keep tabs on a dementia patient.

“Individuals with dementia get confused about time and place. They may think they are late for work and walk out the door, or get confused trying to find the bathroom and go out the wrong door,” affirms David Troxel, a dementia consultant. “Their dementia may cause them to become frightened or upset, and walk or run away from a safe setting.”

The best way to prevent wandering, Troxel believes, is to prevent boredom and keep the person with dementia active and engaged. When you keep him busy, home becomes much more inviting. 

Finding a person with dementia who is missing requires a systematic approach.

• Check dangerous areas such as dense foliage near the home
• Look within a one-mile radius of where the person might have wandered
• Look within one hundred feet of a road (most wanderers start out on roads and remain close by)
• Search in the direction of the wanderer’s dominant hand
• Investigate familiar places such as former residences or favorite spots

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