Notes

How to Prevent a Senior With Dementia From Wandering at Night
A person with dementia who wanders at night can become lost, which poses a serious danger to their health and safety. Caregivers can help by observing the behavior and making changes as needed.

Some signs that a senior may be inclined to wander at night include forgetting how to get home or becoming disoriented in familiar places. Some also exhibit restless movements like pacing or repetitive actions.
Identify the Triggers

When people with dementia wander, they often seek safety from a nightmare, hallucination or delusion. They may also be in pain or need the bathroom. They may believe they need to fulfill a past obligation, such as going to work. They may feel restless or anxious due to medication side effects, temperature changes or hunger.

Other triggers include overstimulation from loud noises and quick movements or a fear of darkness or the outdoors, which can lead to an impulse to flee. A desire to look for a lost spouse or child may also drive wandering.

Some strategies for preventing wandering at night dementia involve changing daily routines and using door alarms, latches or dead bolts to prevent exiting the home at night. Keep in mind that people who wander are usually found within a radius of 1.5 miles from their home. Knowing the person’s favorite place to go and areas where they have been seen before can help search efforts.
Create a Plan

Identify the time of day your senior loved one tends to wander and develop a plan for that period. This can help curb the impulse in the evening, when many people with dementia experience sundowning symptoms and try to elope. Encourage daily activities that can keep your senior engaged and reduce anxiety, agitation and restlessness.

For example, if your senior loves to roam their home, make sure the path from bed to the bathroom is clear of clutter and other objects that may confuse or impede them. Also, remove area rugs to prevent falls.

For more serious incidents, consider using a GPS tracking device or making your loved one wear an identification bracelet. This way, if they do wander outside, their information will be accessible to the community and help return them to safety. You can also use easily recognizable “stop” signs on the doors that lead to the bathrooms and bedrooms, which will deter them from going beyond those barriers.
Educate Others

Many people with dementia tend to wander if they feel disoriented or scared at night. This can be triggered by a change in routine or a natural disaster such as lightning and thunder.

Caregivers should enlist the help of family members and neighbors to watch over their loved one at night and alert them to any changes. The MedicAlert program has a 24/7 caregiver hotline and can help find a person who has wandered at night.

The best strategy for managing wandering is to understand what triggers it in the person. For example, a man who used to rush out of the house at eight o’clock every morning may do so if he hears his home alarm go off at that time or if he gets a call from the vegetable vendor outside. If possible, alter the environment to reduce the triggers. Use night lights, cover door knobs with soft safety covers, and put alarms on doors and windows.
Call for Help

People with dementia will probably wander at some point -- it's a normal part of the progression. But a few preventive strategies can make your loved one less likely to get lost or confused at night.

When a person with dementia wakes up during the night and seems restless, gently remind them it is time to go back to sleep or offer a distracting activity. Distractions can include an ice cream treat, a glass of water, a conversation or listening to soothing music. If the agitation persists, a doctor may prescribe sleep-inducing medication.

Reducing the number of distractions in the home may help, especially if your loved one's wandering is caused by boredom or a desire to meet specific needs like going for a walk or visiting a friend. It's also helpful to keep your loved one's home well-lit, if possible. Medical Alarms Limit daytime napping and use curtains to decrease light intrusion at night. Consider registering your loved one in a program like Project Lifesaver or the Alzheimer's Association Safe Return service, which offers a 24/7 caregiver hotline and free identification bracelets or necklaces.
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