Notes

Why Do Dementia Patients Wander?
Wandering is a common symptom of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. It can be distressing and dangerous for both the person who is wandering and their caregivers, so it’s important to understand why patients do this and how to prevent them from doing it.

Wanderers are often searching for something or someone, such as family members or friends. They may also be trying to return to a former place of employment or residence or to a previous activity they enjoyed.

They might be looking for basic needs such as a bathroom or food. They might also be trying to get back to a previous routine, such as going to work or picking up a child from school.

A change in their medication could cause agitation or anxiety, which makes them want to run away. st john medical alarm cost nz Agitation can be a sign of underlying dementia, but it also can be triggered by new medications, such as antidepressants or sleeping tablets.

Medications can worsen memory and make it more difficult to find things, so talk to your doctor about limiting their use if you suspect the agitation is caused by a drug.

Other factors that can trigger wandering include depression, pain, hunger, loneliness and boredom. You can try to reduce these by providing activities that keep your loved one engaged and by making sure they get their basic needs met such as food, water and a toilet.

If your loved one is at high risk for wandering, install locks on exit doors above their line of sight and consider door alarms that will signal when they have opened a door. Keeping a recent photo handy can also help you and others find your loved one in the event they do become lost.
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