Spring Increases Risk of Dementia-Related Wandering

After a long winter sheltered indoors, those of us in colder climates can often not wait for the break in the weather that spring provides. Warmer weather and longer days bring increased access to the outdoors and opportunities to spend more time in nature.

For caregivers of someone with memory and thinking problems, this change of seasons also brings additional concerns. The same freedom that warmer weather provides can also increase the risk of wandering for those with dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 60 percent of persons with dementia will wander at least once; many will wander repeatedly. As risky and dangerous as wandering is, caregivers can take steps to reduce the risk.

Preventing dementia-related wandering

You can start preventing against wandering by preparing your surroundings. Considering putting car and house keys in a secure place, out of sight. You can also install locks out of your loved one’s line of sight, either up high or down low on a door, and place inexpensive door alarms on doors that sound once a door is opened. Doorknobs can be disguised to blend in with the door or covered with a child proof cover. You might also place a picture of a stop sign on the door at eye level. Or you can even cover a door completely with a curtain. 

Next, you can think about your loved one’s patterns of behavior. What time of day do they normally try to get out of the house? Does your loved one talk about needing to get to work or pick up a child at certain times of the day? Do they pace in the evenings? Are they looking for something to do? Are they in pain, or hungry? You can use these patterns to change your solutions or add new ones.

Once patterns have been established, you can provide supervision during times that your loved one may be at risk for wandering. You can plan meaningful activities and keep to a routine, validating your loved one’s emotions while redirecting them to a safer activity. You may also want to distract your loved one with a snack if they attempt to wander.

You can reduce the risks of wandering by preparing your surroundings, observing your loved one’s behaviors and adding interventions that might head off or redirect wandering behavior. You do not have to wrestle with challenging behaviors on your own. For instance, communicating your loved one’s risk of wandering with neighbors so that they might call if they see them alone out of doors as well as informing local first responders of your situation can help if wandering should occur. Additionally, you can think about having your loved one wear a GPS device to track their movements and an identification bracelet with your contact information. WeCare…Because You Do, an email and phone-based program of care coordination and coaching, can also provide you with the tools and supports to educate yourself about the disease and services available can help clarify next steps and make each day feel doable.