Notes

How to Prevent Dementia Wandering
Though dementia wandering is inevitable, steps can be taken to mitigate its severity and danger. Key elements in reducing wandering episodes include providing supervision, anticipating symptoms, setting routines, providing safe distractions, managing stimulants/liquids responsibly and encouraging physical activity.


Caregivers should remain vigilant for signs that their loved one might wander off, including:

Experiencing disorientation when in unfamiliar or changing environments. A fixation on wanting to return home (even when at home). Unusual restlessness or pacing. Becoming restless during early evening, commonly known as "sundowning."

medical alarms Individuals who wander usually have some memory of where and why they're going, like returning to an old job or familiar place; or having anxiety about being alone. Some will even remember specific reasons for wandering such as having to pee or taking medication.

Initial stages may allow people who wander to be left alone for short periods; however, as their condition worsens and new environments such as homes, apartments or nursing facilities are introduced, continual supervision will become necessary. This is especially the case if there is no family support available or they move into unfamiliar territory such as homes.

Be familiar with your neighborhood, including any potential hazards such as bodies of water, open stairwells and dense foliage. Most wanderers can be found within 1.5 miles from where they started; so when searching, follow the direction of their dominant hand; individuals tend to follow it when lost.


If your loved one tends to wander off alone, create a phone tree among family and friends so they can contact each other when they spot them outside or near the home. medical alarms NZ Also enroll them in your local Silver Alert registry which will notify neighbors, law enforcement and emergency services that an individual is missing.

Provide safe distractions if they tend to wander by leaving them with their favorite book or device in bed with them and placing items that can easily be located, like chairs and walkers. Also ensure their basic needs such as food and fluids are being met; failing this could lead to restlessness, hunger or wandering behaviours.

Make sure that the person's medications are taken at prescribed times, without becoming so sedating as to impair walking or standing. Install door alarms which sound when doors are opened - this may help them from exiting inadvertently and can protect them from exiting unsafely. Install slide locks high up on doors for added protection against being opened accidentally; hide knobs of those doors behind curtains or posters so as to reduce accidental openings of those door knobs as an added measure.


Website: https://familyr.co.nz/