One of the changes that occurs in people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia is a reduced ability to recognize familiar surroundings. This can cause them to become confused about where they are and wander away in search of a more familiar environment. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, six out of 10 people with Alzheimer’s disease wander at some point.

Causes of Wandering

It’s natural to worry about a loved one who starts wandering due to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Understanding the main causes of wandering can help you determine if your loved one is at risk. People with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia may wander for the following reasons:

• Increased stress: Some people feel nervous when they’re around a lot of people they don’t know, causing them to wander to try to get away from the uncomfortable situation.
• Previous routines: Alzheimer’s disease and dementia interfere with a person’s memory. Your loved one may wander because they want to return to familiar routines, such as going to church or having lunch with friends.
• Navigation problems: People with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia may develop problems with their vision or ability to navigate different environments, causing them to get lost even in familiar places.
• Looking for loved ones: In some cases, people with dementia wander because they’re looking for people they knew in the past, such as friends from school or relatives who’ve passed away.
• Personal needs: People with dementia may also wander when they have personal needs. For example, someone may wander off in search of a restroom.

Signs That a Person With Dementia May Be at Risk of Wandering

Now that you know the most common causes of wandering, you may be wondering if your loved one is at risk. Although anyone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia can develop a habit of wandering, some people present a higher risk than others. Be on the lookout for these risk factors:

• Displaying a high level of nervousness or anxiety when visiting new places
• Asking for family members or friends they knew in the past
• Forgetting how to get around the house or navigate familiar places
• Returning from activities later than usual
• Making repetitive movements
• Pacing around the house

Steps to Take for Preventing Wandering

‍

If your loved one has any of these risk factors, there are several steps you can take to prevent wandering. The first is to make sure that all exits have working locks. If your loved one does start to wander, a lock can prevent them from opening a door and putting themselves in harm’s way. You should also consider adding alarms to doors and windows to alert you and other caregivers if your loved one is trying to get out of the house.

Mobile Apps

The digital age has made it much safer for people with dementia to leave their homes, as many companies now offer apps to help track their whereabouts. If you’re concerned about your loved one’s risk of wandering, consider downloading one of these apps and installing it on their mobile phone. Senior Safety App is one of the most popular options on the market. The free app monitors the user’s phone location and makes it easy to request help when needed.

Tracking Devices

Not everyone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia has a mobile phone, so some companies offer watches and pendants with GPS tracking capabilities. These products track a loved one’s location every few seconds to every few minutes, depending on the product and its settings.

Additional Steps

Even when you take as many precautions as possible, there’s a chance your loved one will manage to wander at some point. If this happens, you can protect them by taking the following steps ahead of time:

• Hide the keys to any vehicles on your property, including golf carts, riding lawn mowers and all-terrain vehicles.
• Put away tools and other hazardous items, such as cans of gasoline, bottles of lighter fluid and ladders.
• Buy an ID bracelet and make sure your loved one always wears it. If possible, have the bracelet engraved with a phrase such as “memory impaired” to let first responders know they have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
• Make sure your loved one sees an eye doctor regularly and has their eyeglass prescription updated as needed. If they wander, having the right prescription can reduce their risk of injury by making it easier to see potential obstacles.

What to Do If Your Loved One Wanders Away

If your loved one wanders, start looking for them right away. People with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are usually found close to their homes, so check the yard, walk up and down the street, look around the corner and ask the neighbors if they saw your loved one. Don’t forget to check near shrubs and trees, as they may make it difficult to see your loved one from a distance. If you don’t find them within 15 minutes, call 911 and report them missing.