One of the largest fears of caregivers of loved ones who have Alzheimer’s Disease is that they will wander off and not be able to find their way back home safely. It can cause a lot of worry and fear about having their loved one stay at home with them as the disease progresses.
Why Alzheimer’s Patients Wander
Alzheimer’s patients slowly lose the ability to recognize and remember places, people, and events. They forget even the most ingrained information such as how to find the bathroom in a home or where the local grocery store is located. While most of us take it for granted that if we go somewhere, we’ll be able to find our way to where we came from, this becomes more and more difficult for someone with Alzheimer’s to do as the disease progresses.
Despite not being able to remember where they are or where they’re going, many Alzheimer’s patients still feel a physical need to move around and go somewhere. They might be able to say where they’re going, such as “I’m going home,” or they might not even have a final destination. Their body wants them to keep moving and that movement, without the ability to know where they are, can lead to stressful and dangerous situations for the person and their families.
How Alzheimer’s Care Can Help Reduce Wandering Risks
If your loved one with Alzheimer’s lives with you, you might wonder if you will need to worry about him wandering off at some point. More than half of individuals with dementia wander at some point during the progression of the disease. There are steps that you can take, along with your Alzheimer’s Care providers to help reduce the risk of your loved one wandering off and putting himself in danger.
- Keep him busy during the day. Having an Alzheimer’s care provider who comes to the home to interact and engage your loved one in structured activities is one way to reduce his risk of wandering during the day. If there are times when you have already noticed that he is agitated and searching for someplace to go, plan activities during those times of the day to keep him occupied and reduce the development of agitation.
- If nighttime wandering is a concern, make sure he has all he needs to sleep comfortably and through the night. You might limit liquids during the last few hours of his wakeful hours to prevent the need to urinate at night, and possibly lead him to wander around the home.
- Provide emotional support. If your loved one demonstrates frustration for not being able to go where he wants when he wants, display empathy and then try to distract his current desire to wander by offering something nearby that he will enjoy focusing on.
- Take safety steps. Ask your Alzheimer’s care provider to help you identify areas around the home that need more security. You might consider adding locks that are out of reach for your loved one or adding doorknob covers at night that make opening a door difficult. If your loved one still wants to drive, consider keeping all car keys well hidden so that they’re not accessible.
- Consider 24-hour home care for your loved one so that there is always someone at home with your loved one to keep him safe.
https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/wandering
If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s Care in Dallas, TX, please contact the caring staff at Arcy at Home today at 214-424-6100.
Providing In-Home Care Services in North Texas, including Dallas and the surrounding area.
My name is Jimmie Stapleton. I am the founder and CEO of Arcy Healthcare. Arcy Healthcare includes Arcy Hospice, Arcy Supportive Care, MaximaCare Home Health and Arcy at Home.
Arcy Hospice was opened in 2007 to provide care and support for individuals and families facing a life limiting illness. It was established after my wife Ellen, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, had completed her chemo and radiation therapies. At that time, things were looking positive, and we wanted to do something for our community that had been so supportive of our family during her treatments. Unfortunately, the cancer returned a few years later, and she subsequently passed away under our care in 2010.
In the years that followed, I began to see the need to provide the same level of excellent care to patients across the continuum of care. Therefore, we have added a home health division (MaximaCare Home Health), a palliative care division (Arcy Supportive Care), and a home care division, (Arcy at Home). With the addition of these divisions, we can meet most of the post-acute care needs for you and your family in your home.
I started Arcy Hospice with my wife as my motivation to provide exceptional care and support in the patient’s home, where they are surrounded by family and where they feel most comfortable. I’m proud to say that our staff provides some of the best in home care in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.
Please let us know if we can enrich the quality of life for you or a loved one.
Sincerely,
Jimmie Stapleton – Founder and CEO
Arcy Healthcare
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