How Can You Control Wandering for a Loved One with Alzheimer’s Disease?

By Marlene Diaz | June 8, 2016 |

Caregiver Gig Harbor WA

One of the biggest problems that family caregivers of a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease can face is that of their loved one wandering away. It can be terrifying and it’s a problem that adds to a caregiver’s stress levels.

Why Wandering Happens
Wandering is a common problem for people who have Alzheimer’s disease. Your loved one might wander because she has excess energy that she wants to burn off or she might wander because she thinks that she has to go somewhere. Your loved one may be convinced that she’s going to be late for work or for an important meeting with someone. There are as many reasons for wandering as there are people, so there may be more than one cause behind your loved one’s desire to leave.

Set Up a Daily Routine
When your loved one has a solid daily routine, wandering can be less frequent. You’ll need to start from the morning with a consistent time for her to wake up, have breakfast, and get her day started. You’ll want to plan activities that hold her interest and that fulfill her basic needs. You may want to set up different activities for each day, such as art therapy on Wednesdays with music lessons on Thursdays, or you might want to keep every day the same. The key is to establish a routine.

Distract Your Loved One
Sometimes even with a good routine in place, a loved one might still have a desire to wander. One solution is to have some distractions up your sleeve for these times. It can be something simple, such as a routine household task that you need help with, or you might use a more complicated distraction. The key here is to give your loved one something besides her desire to wander on which to focus.

Install Security Measures
You may also want to help distract your loved one from wandering by installing security measures that make it more difficult. For example, installing deadbolts and putting the key in a safe place can help to keep your loved one from opening the door without you present. Or you might install a door alarm that sounds when the door is opened. Any of these types of systems can help to keep your loved one from wandering.

If you have significant problems keeping your loved one from wandering, you might want to talk to her doctor or to her home care providers to find a solution that works for her.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Caregiver Services in Gig Harbor WA, contact the caring staff at Hospitality Home Care today. Call us at (206) 966-6552.

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Marlene Diaz

Care Supervisor at Hospitality Home Care

Marlene brings to Hospitality Home Care's Care Supervisor Team an unprecedented level of passion for caring for others and a wealth of knowledge and understanding in the care services field. Marlene has worked in the healthcare field for more than 15 years in a variety of settings including, adult family home administration, home care HR supervising and working with specialty populations including dementia, mental health and developmental disabilities. Throughout this time Marlene has also maintained her caregiver credentials that she obtained as a teenager because, while her knowledge is best served helping to train caregivers and assist families to get the care they need, her heart is most fulfilled when she is providing care to others. When she is not in the office, you will most likely find Marlene caring for her family, or spending time with her friends.