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| Wandering – Choosing a Strategy | |
| Keep the Person Pleasantly Engaged |
 Activities can be powerful tools in redirecting a person's attention from leaving home to a favorite pastime. And going for daily walks outside when the weather permits can also reduce “cooped up” feelings and help reduce agitation.
Here are five simple but powerful activities caregivers have told us that kept their loved ones engaged at home. Keep in mind you'll need to start the activity as dementia causes one to lose the ability to initiate.
- Listening/singing favorite old songs
- Watching short videos (nature, music, babies, art, etc.)
- Looking at large print or picture books
- Reminiscing over family albums
- Doing light chores (folding colorful scarves/socks or preparing a meal together
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| Put Away Triggers |
Put away any triggers (reminders) like hats, boots, handbags, coats or even mail for posting, because for some people, it signals it's time to go outdoors.
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| Camouflage the Door or Doorknob |
For some, it they can't see it, it doesn't exist. However, people who have been living in their residence for many years may remember the location of the door, regardless of any camouflage. This intervention is usually most effective when a caregiver is nearby to provide redirection as the person could become agitated if they cannot find or open the door. Also, you'll want to make sure this intervention is in compliance with your local fire codes; some towns may not allow this type of strategy.
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| Put Up a "Do Not Enter" Sign |
This Caring Home's Advisory Board member, Krista Scheel of the Alzheimer's Association in Milwaukee, WI, tells us that a “Do Not Enter” sign has shown to be more effective than using a “Stop” sign on the door.
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Narration:
There has been very little research on what solutions work best in different situations and environments, so it can be overwhelming trying to find the best strategies to deal with wandering. How well any intervention works depends on a lot of things, including the person's temperament, the stage of the disease, their environment, and, of course, the product or strategy employed. For example, a person may become very agitated by locked doors or refuse to carry a tracking device like a cell phone or wear a special monitor on their wrist. Further GPS and other tracking devices do not work in all environments. Since no single strategy will work in all situations, it's best to try several to see which ones work best for you. For example, combine several strategies for extra safety, like ID bracelets and some kind of monitoring device.
For more information, hover over these four simple strategies that you can use along with other interventions in this section.
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