Getting on the Right Path; Tips for Handling Wandering

Another big issue is what to do when the loved one with Alzheimer’s wants to wander at night. Mace and Rabins encourage having the person exercise during the day and decrease dozing so that the he or she will have a better chance of sleeping throughout the night. The residence should be situated so that there aren’t any safety hazards if the loved one does get up in the middle of the night to wander. For instance, all doors and windows should be locked. The bedroom’s furniture should be arranged in a way to promote safety. If there are steps, place a gate to keep the person from falling on the steps.

Another idea for those who wander during the night is to look for innovative services that are available during that time period. For instance, The New York Times recently reported on Hebrew Home’s ElderServe at Night, which is a dusk-to-dawn drop-off program intended to strengthen the participant’s decaying mind while designed to allow the participant to be active after dark. The ElderServe provides an employee who goes with people with Alzheimer’s on a supervised stroll. “Participants are fetched from their homes by vans and spend 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. painting, potting plants, dancing and talking — or, for those immobilized by their disease, relaxing amid music, massage and twinkling lights. The patients rest as they need, for a few minutes or a few hours, and return home the next morning fed, showered and, usually, tuckered out,” Cara Buckley and James Estrin reported.

Another stimulus for wander is being placed in a new setting. The one time that I noticed that Mom had more of a tendency to wander was when she was moved to a new environment. You can try to ease the move through taking the loved one to the new place prior to the move several times prior to the actual event and also involve the loved one in planning the move. After the move happened, I tried to help orient Mom by placing a bright, festive quilt that she had seen for several years prior on her bed so that she would recognize her new room.

Trying to think ahead to help a loved one who has dementia and who has a propensity to wandering can be difficult. Perhaps the best advice is to fill the loved one’s day with activities and exercise, be proactive in maintaining the area to ensure safety, and look for innovative programs that support the needs of someone with dementia. And I hope that if you have other suggestions in this area, you’ll share them below.